Anderson Tejeda Stats & Scouting Report

AB	91
AVG	.22
OBP	.245
SLG	.385
HR	3

Full name Anderson Alexander Tejeda
Born 05/01/1998 in Bani, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: S / Throws: R
Debut 08/06/2020

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: After missing almost all of 2019 with a separated shoulder, Tejeda reclaimed his status as a top prospect in 2020. He began the year at the alternate training site and impressed enough to earn his first major league callup despite not having played above high Class A. Tejeda made his debut in August and took over as the Rangers’ primary shortstop in September.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers have few concerns about Tejeda’s defense. He can make all the plays at shortstop, particularly in the hole, and his plus-plus arm allows him to make throws most others cannot. Tejeda is a natural lefthanded hitter who recently began switch-hitting. He has natural loft in his swing, which will translate into big power for a middle infielder, if he can make enough contact. Tejeda is a free swinger and was too aggressive for major league pitchers, who didn’t have to throw pitches in the strike zone to get him out. Pitchers will make life tough on him as long as he continues to chase.

THE FUTURE: Tejeda did plenty of good things in his major league debut but remains raw at the plate. With Isiah Kiner-Falefa moving from third base to shortstop, Tejeda will likely start 2021 back in the minors.
TRACK RECORD: Tejeda has shown big tools since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000 in 2014, but with up-and-down performance. His 2019 season lasted just 43 games before a subluxation of his left shoulder while sliding into a base ended his season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Tejeda began switch-hitting in games in 2019. He has little experience from the right side and is understandably raw, so it's not certain he will continue with it long term, though the Rangers plan to have him continue with it in 2020. From the left side, Tejeda has whippy bat speed and plus raw power, a potential 25-plus homer threat who can go deep to all fields. He also has a high swing-and-miss rate in the strike zone and chases too many pitches. Tejeda once faced questions about his ability to stick at shortstop, but improved first-step quickness and footwork have quieted those concerns. There's no question about his arm, a 70 tool that's among the best in the game.

THE FUTURE: Added to the 40-man roster after the season, Tejeda has a chance to be a power-hitting shortstop, but he needs to make more contact as he faces better pitching that can exploit his weaknesses.
Track Record: Signed for $100,000 in 2014, Tejeda has flashed big tools with spurts of performance to match. In 2018, he took a big leap forward both offensively and defensively at high Class A Down East.

Scouting Report: Coming into 2018, Tejeda once faced questions on whether he would stick at shortstop, but the Rangers emphasized developing his first-step quickness and footwork, both of which made major progress in 2018, with Tejeda now projecting to remain a shortstop. He showed better reactions off the bat and cut down on his throwing errors with a better understanding of how to use his feet, which kept his throws more online. That helped him take advantage of his 70-grade arm one of the game's best infield arms, which grades as at least a 70 tool. Tejeda's offensive profile is one the Rangers have experience with: big power and a lot of strikeouts as he works to develop a better plan. He has plus raw power to go deep to all fields, giving him 25-plus home run potential, but he also had a 27 percent strikeout rate. Tejeda's bat control, strike-zone discipline and understanding of how opposing pitchers are trying to attack him will all have to improve against upper-level pitching. He also had large platoon splits and will have to hit better against lefties.

The Future: Some scouts now prefer Tejeda to Leody Taveras because he has more power to do damage on contact, while Taveras has better bat control and strike-zone discipline. Tejeda will start 2019 in Double-A and could develop into a power-hitting regular at shortstop.
After signing for $100,000 in 2014, Tejeda flashed breakout signals when the Rangers promoted him to short-season Spokane in 2016 and he smashed eight home runs in just 23 games. Tejeda didn't carry that success over to low Class A Hickory in 2017, with a lot of swing-and-miss, especially early in the season. Tejeda's swing has a lot of moving parts and often gets long, but the Rangers emphasized the importance of trusting his hands and focusing on driving the ball to the middle of the field. Tejeda's strikeout rate dropped from 34 percent in the first half to 25 percent in the second half, and Tejeda finished the year by hitting .293/.350/.500 in August. He's an aggressive hitter who is still learning to recognize breaking pitches, but he can ambush a fastball and is a 20-homer threat. An average runner, Tejeda's plus arm is a weapon, but he's still cleaning up his footwork and first step, and his range is a touch short for what's ideal at the position. Tejeda has a chance to stick there but could end up at second or third base. He will likely go to high Class A Down East to open 2018.
The Rangers liked Tejeda's hitting ability when they signed him for $100,000 as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. After a strong pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2015, he built upon that in 2016 in the Rookie-level Arizona League and earned a late promotion to short-season Spokane, where he ranked fifth in the Northwest League with eight home runs despite playing just 23 games there. Tejeda has quick, whippy bat speed and a lot of moving parts in his swing--from a leg kick to the way he loads his hands. He has the power to hit 20 home runs and shows natural feel to hit, but he's a free-swinger who struck out 25 percent of the time in 2016. Tejeda has good hand-eye coordination but he has to calm his swing and get better at recognizing breaking pitches. Some scouts think he can stay at shortstop, where he has a plus arm, but his offensive game is ahead of his defense. An average runner, Tejeda made 17 errors in 45 games at shortstop and is still learning to slow the game down. He is ready for low Class A Hickory next in 2017.

Minor League Top Prospects

When Tejeda and Leody Taveras played together in Hickory in 2017, scouts largely considered Taveras the better prospect. A year later, that evaluation has flipped. Both have some impressive tools, but Tejeda’s power (and Taveras’ struggles at the plate) have separated them. At shortstop, Tejeda’s plus-plus arm is a wonderful weapon that allows him to make plays going back and to his right on balls that most shortstops have to stick in their back pocket. His range and hands are average, but his athleticism and feel for the game along with that arm gives him a chance to be a 55 defender. Tejeda is not a consistent hitter yet, as he chases too much, struggles to recognize spin and expands the zone. But he has plus power and he eats up righthanders. He has to hit lefties better, but his at-bats against same-side pitchers show signs of hope that he will hit them eventually.
Signed in September 2014 for $100,000, Tejeda started in the Dominican Summer League, moved to the Rookie-level Arizona League shortly thereafter and made his NWL debut on Aug. 4. He ranked fifth in the league in homers (eight) despite playing just 23 games in a 76-game schedule. Tejeda has the hands, quickness, range and above-average to plus arm to stick at shortstop. At the plate, he showcased plus bat speed and the power that it produces. He needs to sharpen his plate discipline after striking out 35.1 percent of the time.
Tejeda was relatively unknown at the start of the AZL season after having stayed back in the Dominican Republic during spring training and extended spring training, but he quickly made an impression on scouts. Signed in 2014 for $100,000, he is a pure hitter with very good hand-eye coordination, though that skill gets him in trouble at times because he feels he can hit any pitch and has a tendency to get away from his approach at the plate. He has great bat speed and a really good feel for the barrel, but needs to be more consistent with his approach. Tejeda's defense gets mixed reviews, with some observers believing he profiles better as an offensive second baseman because he doesn't have a quick first step. Otherwise, he flashes good tools and instincts, quick hands and a plus arm. He more than handled a promotion to the short-season Northwest League, ranking fifth in home runs while playing less than a third of the 76-game season.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Infield Arm in the Texas Rangers in 2020
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Texas Rangers in 2020
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Texas Rangers in 2019
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Texas Rangers in 2019
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Texas Rangers in 2018

Scouting Reports

Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: After missing almost all of 2019 with a separated shoulder, Tejeda reclaimed his status as a top prospect in 2020. He began the year at the alternate training site and impressed enough to earn his first major league callup despite not having played above high Class A. Tejeda made his debut in August and took over as the Rangers’ primary shortstop in September.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers have few concerns about Tejeda’s defense. He can make all the plays at shortstop, particularly in the hole, and his plus-plus arm allows him to make throws most others cannot. Tejeda is a natural lefthanded hitter who recently began switch-hitting. He has natural loft in his swing, which will translate into big power for a middle infielder, if he can make enough contact. Tejeda is a free swinger and was too aggressive for major league pitchers, who didn’t have to throw pitches in the strike zone to get him out. Pitchers will make life tough on him as long as he continues to chase.

THE FUTURE: Tejeda did plenty of good things in his major league debut but remains raw at the plate. With Isiah Kiner-Falefa moving from third base to shortstop, Tejeda will likely start 2021 back in the minors.
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: After missing almost all of 2019 with a separated shoulder, Tejeda reclaimed his status as a top prospect in 2020. He began the year at the alternate training site and impressed enough to earn his first major league callup despite not having played above high Class A. Tejeda made his debut in August and took over as the Rangers’ primary shortstop in September.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers have few concerns about Tejeda’s defense. He can make all the plays at shortstop, particularly in the hole, and his plus-plus arm allows him to make throws most others cannot. Tejeda is a natural lefthanded hitter who recently began switch-hitting. He has natural loft in his swing, which will translate into big power for a middle infielder, if he can make enough contact. Tejeda is a free swinger and was too aggressive for major league pitchers, who didn’t have to throw pitches in the strike zone to get him out. Pitchers will make life tough on him as long as he continues to chase.

THE FUTURE: Tejeda did plenty of good things in his major league debut but remains raw at the plate. With Isiah Kiner-Falefa moving from third base to shortstop, Tejeda will likely start 2021 back in the minors.
TRACK RECORD: Tejeda has shown big tools since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000 in 2014, but with up-and-down performance. His 2019 season lasted just 43 games before a subluxation of his left shoulder while sliding into a base ended his season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Tejeda began switch-hitting in games in 2019. He has little experience from the right side and is understandably raw, so it’s not certain he will continue with it long term, though the Rangers plan to have him continue with it in 2020. From the left side, Tejeda has whippy bat speed and plus raw power, a potential 25-plus homer threat who can go deep to all fields. He also has a high swing-and-miss rate in the strike zone and chases too many pitches. Tejeda once faced questions about his ability to stick at shortstop, but improved first-step quickness and footwork have quieted those concerns. There’s no question about his arm, a 70 tool that’s among the best in the game.

THE FUTURE: Added to the 40-man roster after the season, Tejeda has a chance to be a power-hitting shortstop, but he needs to make more contact as he faces better pitching that can exploit his weaknesses.
TRACK RECORD: Tejeda has shown big tools since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000 in 2014, but with up-and-down performance. His 2019 season lasted just 43 games before a subluxation of his left shoulder while sliding into a base ended his season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Tejeda began switch-hitting in games in 2019. He has little experience from the right side and is understandably raw, so it's not certain he will continue with it long term, though the Rangers plan to have him continue with it in 2020. From the left side, Tejeda has whippy bat speed and plus raw power, a potential 25-plus homer threat who can go deep to all fields. He also has a high swing-and-miss rate in the strike zone and chases too many pitches. Tejeda once faced questions about his ability to stick at shortstop, but improved first-step quickness and footwork have quieted those concerns. There's no question about his arm, a 70 tool that's among the best in the game.

THE FUTURE: Added to the 40-man roster after the season, Tejeda has a chance to be a power-hitting shortstop, but he needs to make more contact as he faces better pitching that can exploit his weaknesses.