Mar 10 2008 04:45 AM
My decision to adopted Ruben has nothing to do with the fact he's currently hitting .500 in ST. Honest. I came across a recent Baseball Prospectus article on him and I thought it would be nice to share. That, and the fact I’m nauseated at the thought of seeing Luis Castillo play 2nd base for the next four years.
Baseball Prospectus currently (and perhaps a bit harshly) ranks Ruben 10th in the Mets farm system, and regards him a two-star prospect. BP also thinks the entire Mets farm system sucks (F-Mart is the only four-star prospect, and there are no 5 star prospects). Rotoworld has Tejada ranked 2nd, ahead of Jonathon Niese and behind Martinez.
The current plan is to move Ruben from Rookie League last year to High-A this year based largely on how impressive he's been in this ST camp filling in during the spate of injuries. Tejada, a Panamanian signed for $30,000, has particularly impressed in the field, with one scout likening him to "a young Ozzie Guillen" and Tony Bernazard saying, "He's a special, special player."
The key feature of his play is his ability to draw walks. Last year, playing in the Venezuelan Summer League (Rookie level), aged 18, he returned an impressive stats line:
AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS
364 32 121 32 44 5 0 3 25 58 19 19 16 5 .466 .479 .946
This lead to a promotion to the Gulf Coast League (High Rookie) (in-season promotions are not very common). There his power numbers dropped but he was able to maintain an impressive OBP;
.283 35 120 13 34 4 3 0 16 44 19 16 2 1 .401 .367 .768
Anyway, this is what BP has to say;
10. Ruben Tejada, 2B/SS DOB: 9/1/89 Height/Weight: 5-11/165B Bats/Throws: R/R Acquired: NDFA, 2006, Panama 2007 Stats: .283/.401/.367 at Rookie-level (35 G) Year In Review: A previously obscure Panamanian, Tejada put up a .400+ on-base percentage in the Gulf Coast League in his stateside debut. The Good: Tejada earns high praise from Mets officials for his advanced approach (he walked more than he struck out) and his baseball intelligence. He has a line-drive bat and uses all fields, and he shows excellent fundamentals defensively. The Bad: Unlike most Latin American teenagers, Tejada isn't especially toolsy. He has little power or projection for any, and his speed and arm are both no more that average, leaving him with the likely profile of a second baseman in the end. Fun Fact: Tejada hit just .186 with the bases empty, but more than doubled that with a .377 mark with runners on base. Perfect World Projection: An everyday second baseman and ideal No. 2 hitter in the lineup. Timetable: Tejada might lack upside, but his polish is more than enough to handle a full-season debut at Low-A as an 18-year-old. -Baseball Prospectus |
At 5-11, it's conceivable he may "fill-out" a bit, which may help his power game to develop. If he learns the art of base-stealing, combined with his high walk rate, he has the potential to become a very dangerous player. Be that as it may, it's always encouraging when words such as "baseball intelligence", "polish" and "advanced approach" are used to describe an 18-year old ball player.
Projected At-Bat Music: “Patience” by Guns N Roses
Projected Nickname: El Asesino con el rostro de un bebé
