Texas Rangers: Top Shortstop Prospect Anderson Tejeda Called Up

With Danny Santana headed to the IL, the Texas Rangers have recalled their top shortstop prospect Anderson Tejeda who is looking for his big league debut.

The Texas Rangers announced Sunday afternoon that top shortstop prospect Anderson Tejeda has been called up to the big leagues for the first time in his career. Tejeda comes up to replace center fielder Danny Santana who was moved to the 10-day IL with arm soreness that has kept him out of the lineup for a few days.

Tejeda will be searching for his big league debut with a chance to join Leody Taveras as the second Rangers’ debutant of the 2020 season. One of the top shortstop prospects and seventh overall prospect in the Rangers organization per MLB Pipeline, Tejeda signed with Texas in 2014 as an international prospect.

Somewhat surprising, but par for the course in 2020, Tejeda has yet to appear in a game above the High-A level. He spent 2018 and 2019 with the Down East Wood Ducks as he continued to try and develop the offensive side of this game. He missed the majority of last season with injury while repeating that High-A level so the call up represents a significant jump for the 22-year old.

A solid defensive infielder, Tejeda has a plus arm that should let him play around the infield if needed. He has above average power for a shortstop but still struggles to make consistent, solid contact. His strikeout rate between 2018 and 2019 was fairly high and he went down on strikes at an average of over once per game. The power showed up though in 2018 with Tejeda posting a .259 average and hitting 19 home runs in 121 games for Down East. He drove in 74 runs and posted a .770 OPS.

If Tejeda does get a chance to make his big league debut, it likely will be while a right-handed pitcher is on the mound. Tejeda has worked as a switch-hitter recently but still struggles mightily with lefties with his .589 OPS against them last season the best of his career per MLB Pipeline.

Tejeda will provide some infield depth to the roster while they wait for Santana to return and benefitted from already being on the 40-man roster. In a strange season that will likely have a lot of ups and downs, top prospects getting big league time is always exciting for fans and Tejeda will not be an exception if he gets the chance to hit the field.