Meet The New Guys: Ruben Tejada

Ruben Tejada is a 30 year old right handed infielder who is most well known as the victim in the play that caused the “Chase Utley Rule” (second base takeout slides - pictured above). Tejada was acquired by the Jays in the offseason through free agency, joining the team on a minor league deal. He is most likely to begin the year in AAA Buffalo, behind Joe Panik on the depth card.

Over Tejada’s nine major league seasons, seven were spent as the New York Mets shortstop, including the team's world series run. He was a staple in the line up for six and a half years before being let go, and signing with St. Louis. Ever since Tejada suffered significant injuries to his ankle in the 2015 playoff run, his career has significantly derailed, and he has been unable to land a starting job since. In the last four seasons combined, Tejada had a total of 83 at bats between four teams. Prior to the injury, Tejada had never finished with less than 200 at bats in a season, including his age 20 debut year.

Throughout his career, Tejada holds a .250 batting average with 10 career home runs. He has never been a significant source of offense, but held his starting spot with the help of his glove. On defense, with his career high sitting at 7 defensive runs saved. Tejada has played his whole career as a bench caliber type player, not really specializing at anything, despite being slightly stronger on defense.

Tejada is likely to be an insignificant piece to the Jays 2020 season, but could be called up in the case of injuries to the starting infielders. Otherwise, he is someone that will likely be found in Buffalo for a vast majority of the season, especially being on a minor league deal. He is not currently on the 40-man roster, and is a possible candidate to be released by the organization during the course of the season due to lack of positional need with Panik, Espinal, and Drury all ahead of him for the bench role.