Oscar Tejeda

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2007
R:  295/344/399, 173 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 15 BB, 27 K, 6-8 SB
A-:  298/347/395, 94 AB, 5 2B, 2 3B, 6 BB, 26 K, 4-5 SB

The Red Sox aggressively brought Tejeda to the GCL at age 17 and then promoted him during the season.  He held his own at bat.  He played exclusively at short and had trouble with errors, producing a very low .926 fielding percentage between the two levels.  Just the same, Baseball America ranked him among the top ten prospects in both leagues.

2008
A:  261/301/347, 372 AB, 18 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 20 BB, 76 K, 11-16 SB

Tejeda didn’t hit very well in low A.  The poor K:BB ratio was a sign of things to come.  He played mostly short but got into 17 games at third.  He continued having trouble with errors.

2009
A:  257/311/332, 370 AB, 13 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 30 BB, 89 K, 3-8 SB

Tejeda returned to low A and had almost exactly the same season as 2008.  He played exclusively at short and had a .933 fielding percentage.

2010
A+:  307/344/455, 508 AB, 32 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 32 BB, 96 K, 17-24 SB

Tejeda had by far his best pro season in high A.  His plate discipline, though, remained weak.  The Red Sox moved him to second and he played all his games there.

2011
AA:  249/297/339, 457 AB, 24 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 BB, 101 K, 13-17 SB

Tejeda’s hitting in AA declined more or less to what it was in low A.  His plate discipline also declined.  He continued to play second.

2012
AA (Bos):  262/294/396, 202 AB, 12 2B, 5 HR, 9 BB, 41 K, 2-3 SB
AA (Pgh):  242/292/364, 198 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 15 BB, 42 K, 3-3 SB

Tejeda went back to AA and continued to struggle prior to the Pirates claiming him.  His power did improve a little, but his walk rate dropped to a career low.  The Red Sox played him exclusively in left and at DH.  After the Pirates claimed him, his walk rate improved a little but otherwise his hitting declined.  He played five games at second and otherwise played only in the outfield, almost all of the time in left.  The Pirates designated Tejeda for assignment in early September to clear room to allow them to return Jeff Clement to the roster.  He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Altoona.

2013
AA:  262/303/357, 84 AB, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 18 K
AAA:  085/204/149, 47 AB, 3 2B, 7 BB, 14 K, 2-2 SB

Tejeda opened the season at Indianapolis as a utility player, but didn’t play much there and ultimately moved back and forth as needed between AA and AAA.  In the end he didn’t play a great deal anywhere, getting just small amounts of time in left and at all four infield positions.  Tejeda hit about the same as ever in AA and not at all in limited AAA time.

The Pirates’ decision to claim Tejeda was puzzling, although it didn’t cause any harm and he ended up in the system without being on the 40-man roster.  He’ll be eligible for minor league free agency this fall and there’s no particular reason for the Pirates to try to re-sign him.  Drew Maggi is a better utility player and Andy Vasquez is as good.