With their 19th round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Yoel Tejeda out of North Broward Prep in Florida.
Tejeda is a two-way player, announced as a pitcher, who stands 6’7″, 210 pounds and he turned 19 years old earlier this month. MLB Pipeline has him ranked 217th in the draft class, though Baseball America doesn’t have him in their top 500. As a pitcher, he sits low-90s according to Pipeline, touching as high as 97 MPH. His changeup is his second best pitch and it has some sink to the pitch. His breaking ball is a slow slurve. Pipeline gives him a 55 grade for the fastball, 50 for changeup, 45 for slider and 45 for control. Scouts liked him better as a pitcher due to his projection.
As a hitter, he has great raw power as a switch-hitter, but there’s concern about his ability to make enough contact. He would be likely end up at first base as a hitter, but the Pirates didn’t give any immediate indication that he will be a two-way player. He gets 40 grades for hitting and running, 50 for power and fielding and 55 for arm.
He has a commitment to Florida, so he will be an over-slot signing, but the Pirates should have money to spend.
+ postsJohn started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
It’s hard to imagine this kid signing. I’m sure they’d probably give him a fairly good bonus or they wouldn’t have bothered drafting him, but a 19th round pick who has a commitment to his in state university? As Pirate fan I’d like to see him sign, but as a parent and fan of young men, I’d sure encourage him to go to college and develop himself in baseball and every other way instead of grabbing what has to amount to a little bit of money. Enjoy your life kid and if you’re any good at it baseball will still be there in a few years.
I tend to think of it the opposite way. He could take a decent payday now and chase his dream. College will always be there, baseball won’t.
Agreed but you never know. I was surprised when Bishop signed, and the best developmental path to the majors is signing out of HS. However, this year’s draft shows that you don’t need to be your college team’s top starter or even healthy to get drafted from a school like Florida.
Finally a day three player of interest. You can’t coach 6‘7“. Looking forward to the day Oneill Cruz has somebody he can look in the eye in the clubhouse.
He can’t help but remind me a bit of Glasnow.
https://www.mlb.com/video/2022-draft-yoel-tejeda-1b-rhp
Saw this on mlb.com
Thanks for sharing the link!
He looks fantastic. Topping out at 97 is very impressive for any teenager
Definitely room for him to fill out and get stronger over time.
Dude’s all legs LOL
Woo! A prep guy!