Isaias Tejeda

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #31 prospect in 2012
  Tejeda was the everyday catcher for the Yankees' 2011 Rookie-level Gulf Coast League championship club. He ranked sixth in the league in batting (.331) and second on the club in homers (six) and slugging (.568). He wasn't a high-dollar signee, and New York is excited about how his tools and his body have improved since signing. Tejeda has a compact swing with solid strength that helps him drive balls to the gaps. He's aggressive but for the most part swings at good pitches and has a decent idea of a strike zone. Like most other Yankees catching prospects, he's an offense-first backstop, though Tejeda does have decent defensive tools and strong intangibles, such as calling a good game already. He shows talent at blocking balls in the dirt and is an average receiver with fringy arm strength. Club officials say he has quick feet and a fast release, but he threw out just 10 of 73 basestealers (14 percent) last year, so he obviously needs polish. Tejeda will move up one step at a time, with short-season Staten Island his destination in 2012.