Miguel Tejada

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #2 prospect in 1998
  Ranked as the Athletics’ top prospect last season, Tejada continues to improve. He received a late-season callup and made a generally good impression, though the major league staff determined that he needs more time to ripen. The Dominican native has the potential to be a spectacular defensive shortstop who hits for power. He has arm strength, range and exceptional hands. Tejada remains unrefined. While he has improved his consistency, he still has work to do. Too often, he makes the great play, then follows by booting a routine grounder. He still tends to throw away balls when forced to rush his throws, and he throws when he shouldn’t. He also must refine his strike zone to become a consistent major league hitter. Tejada is ticketed for Triple-A Edmonton, and only a spectacular spring would change the plan.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #1 prospect in 1997
  The diminutive Dominican was voted the No. 1 prospect in the Northwest League in 1995 and California League in 1996. Tejada is the poster boy for the Athletics’ rich Latin American program, overseen by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. Tejada is athletic and exciting. He makes seemingly impossible defensive plays, steals bases and hits home runs. What has most impressed the A’s is his ability to make adjustments at bat. When pitchers start figuring what it takes to get him out, Tejada figures out what it takes to get a hit. While Tejada makes remarkable plays, he still has trouble with the mundane. Far too many routine grounders turn into boots. Tejada also must improve his endurance. He simply wore out at the end of the Cal League season. The Athletics’ goal is to have Tejada as their starting shortstop in 1998, though that may be optimistic. He’s scheduled to start 1997 at Double-A Huntsville.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #6 prospect in 1996
  6. Miguel Tejada, SS Tejada was signed by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, Oakland’s director of Latin American scouting. Tejada led the Dominican Summer League with 18 homers in 1994, gaining him distinction of becoming the first player from the Athletics’ Dominican program to bypass the Rookie-level Arizona League. He responded by earning top prospect honors in the short-season Northwest League last year. Tejada is a legitimate shortstop with great range, fine hands and an above-average arm. Offensively, he has speed and power potential. The A’s expect higher batting averages as he matures. Tejada still makes his share of teenage mistakes. He swings and throws too hard. His 26 errors in 74 games were mostly on wild throws. Tejada will start the year with another big jump, heading for high Class A ball in Modesto.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 1997
  Most Southern League managers raved all season about Tejada’s defense and his all-around game. They insist it is only a matter of time before he is a major star in the major leagues. In his first season in Double-A, Tejada put on offensive shows almost daily. Just 20, he was called up to the major leagues on Aug. 26, even though Huntsville was fighting for the league title. Defensively, Tejada has a strong, accurate arm and a quick release. His 36 errors were too many for some, but other managers noted that many were a result of aggressive play that could easily be tamed. “For a young player, he doesn’t have too many holes,” one manager said. “He’s an outstanding defensive player, or he will be. He has all the tools to be a great major league ballplayer.”
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 1996
  Another in a long line of slick-fielding shortstops from the Dominican Republic, Tejada amazed managers throughout the California League both in the field and at the plate with Modesto. He has no holes in his game. More than one manager referred to him as a five-tool player. Signed by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, Tejada led the Dominican Summer League in homers two years ago and was named the Northwest League’s No. 1 prospect in 1995. “He is very versatile,” Lancaster manager Dave Brundage said. “He has a strong arm, good power and very good speed. He’s an intelligent player and plays hard. He should have a nice career in the major leagues.”
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #1 prospect in 1995
  Not every manager tabbed the Dominican as his No. 1 prospect, but those who did weren’t at all hesitant about it. His astonishing range at shortstop had his own Southern Oregon teammates shaking their heads, even late in the season. Tejada’s range and his ability to produce runs despite a rather adventurous approach to the strike zone tagged him as the Northwest League player most likely to go the farthest in the shortest time. “Good bat speed, good pitch selection, all the tools to be a good offensive player and he can run,” Portland manager P.J. Carey said. “He’s a five-tool player, and you don’t see those that often at this level.” “His range at short is second to none,” Yakima manager Joe Vavra said. “Once he got to the ball he had everything under control.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 1998
• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 1997
• Ranked Baseball America's #88 prospect in 1996

• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Ranked as the Athletics’ top prospect last season, Tejada continues to improve. He received a late-season callup and made a generally good impression, though the major league staff determined that he needs more time to ripen. The Dominican native has the potential to be a spectacular defensive shortstop who hits for power. He has arm strength, range and exceptional hands. Tejada remains unrefined. While he has improved his consistency, he still has work to do. Too often, he makes the great play, then follows by booting a routine grounder. He still tends to throw away balls when forced to rush his throws, and he throws when he shouldn’t. He also must refine his strike zone to become a consistent major league hitter. Tejada is ticketed for Triple-A Edmonton, and only a spectacular spring would change the plan.
• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  Most Southern League managers raved all season about Tejada’s defense and his all-around game. They insist it is only a matter of time before he is a major star in the major leagues. In his first season in Double-A, Tejada put on offensive shows almost daily. Just 20, he was called up to the major leagues on Aug. 26, even though Huntsville was fighting for the league title. Defensively, Tejada has a strong, accurate arm and a quick release. His 36 errors were too many for some, but other managers noted that many were a result of aggressive play that could easily be tamed. “For a young player, he doesn’t have too many holes,” one manager said. “He’s an outstanding defensive player, or he will be. He has all the tools to be a great major league ballplayer.”
• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  The diminutive Dominican was voted the No. 1 prospect in the Northwest League in 1995 and California League in 1996. Tejada is the poster boy for the Athletics’ rich Latin American program, overseen by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. Tejada is athletic and exciting. He makes seemingly impossible defensive plays, steals bases and hits home runs. What has most impressed the A’s is his ability to make adjustments at bat. When pitchers start figuring what it takes to get him out, Tejada figures out what it takes to get a hit. While Tejada makes remarkable plays, he still has trouble with the mundane. Far too many routine grounders turn into boots. Tejada also must improve his endurance. He simply wore out at the end of the Cal League season. The Athletics’ goal is to have Tejada as their starting shortstop in 1998, though that may be optimistic. He’s scheduled to start 1997 at Double-A Huntsville.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  6. Miguel Tejada, SS Tejada was signed by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, Oakland’s director of Latin American scouting. Tejada led the Dominican Summer League with 18 homers in 1994, gaining him distinction of becoming the first player from the Athletics’ Dominican program to bypass the Rookie-level Arizona League. He responded by earning top prospect honors in the short-season Northwest League last year. Tejada is a legitimate shortstop with great range, fine hands and an above-average arm. Offensively, he has speed and power potential. The A’s expect higher batting averages as he matures. Tejada still makes his share of teenage mistakes. He swings and throws too hard. His 26 errors in 74 games were mostly on wild throws. Tejada will start the year with another big jump, heading for high Class A ball in Modesto.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Another in a long line of slick-fielding shortstops from the Dominican Republic, Tejada amazed managers throughout the California League both in the field and at the plate with Modesto. He has no holes in his game. More than one manager referred to him as a five-tool player. Signed by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, Tejada led the Dominican Summer League in homers two years ago and was named the Northwest League’s No. 1 prospect in 1995. “He is very versatile,” Lancaster manager Dave Brundage said. “He has a strong arm, good power and very good speed. He’s an intelligent player and plays hard. He should have a nice career in the major leagues.”
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  Not every manager tabbed the Dominican as his No. 1 prospect, but those who did weren’t at all hesitant about it. His astonishing range at shortstop had his own Southern Oregon teammates shaking their heads, even late in the season. Tejada’s range and his ability to produce runs despite a rather adventurous approach to the strike zone tagged him as the Northwest League player most likely to go the farthest in the shortest time. “Good bat speed, good pitch selection, all the tools to be a good offensive player and he can run,” Portland manager P.J. Carey said. “He’s a five-tool player, and you don’t see those that often at this level.” “His range at short is second to none,” Yakima manager Joe Vavra said. “Once he got to the ball he had everything under control.”