Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Five Intriguing Players in the FCL & DSL

Joaquin Tejada

The second longest tenured prospect of today is Joaquin Tejada. The Pirates acquired Tejada at the 2021 trade deadline. The right-hander was originally an international signee by the Seattle Mariners, but was sent to the Bucs alongside catcher Carter Bins for veteran starter Tyler Anderson. Tejada will be looking to rebound after missing some time in 2022.

Tejada only pitched 27 innings, not allowing a home run while striking out 24.6% of the opponents who stepped to the plate against him. But he walked 17 batters for a walk rate of 14.9%. Overall, Tejada had 4.00 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP while holding opponents to a .172 average against him. Plus he had a quality 46% ground ball rate.

Tejada throws four offerings, the best of which is his high-spin curveball. His other off-speed offerings include a splitter and slider, both of which project as average offerings. Currently, he sits in the low-90s, but there is some room for velocity growth. Despite a shorter stature at 5’11”, he only weighs in at 160 pounds.

One part of his game that could add some make up is his athleticism. He has a smooth delivery and should improve his command in the future. Keep in mind that Tejada won’t turn 20 until mid-July. There’s certainly a chance he makes his Low-A debut late into the year.