masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgA veteran of 616 major league games since 2010, the Orioles added infielder Rubén Tejada to their 25- and 40-man rosters today, and he was in the clubhouse this afternoon. Tejada will wear No. 17. To make roster room, Paul Janish was designated for assignment.
The Orioles had just acquired Tejada on Sunday night for cash considerations from the New York Yankees.
The 27-year-old right-handed hitter was playing for New York’s Triple-A Scranton team this season. In 37 games, he is batting…

A veteran of 616 major league games since 2010, the Orioles added infielder Rubén Tejada to their 25- and 40-man rosters today, and he was in the clubhouse this afternoon. Tejada will wear No. 17. To make roster room, Paul Janish was designated for assignment.

The Orioles had just acquired Tejada on Sunday night for cash considerations from the New York Yankees.

Ruben-Tejada-Yankees-spring-sidebar.jpgThe 27-year-old right-handed hitter was playing for New York’s Triple-A Scranton team this season. In 37 games, he is batting .269/.345/.462 with seven doubles, six homers, 21 RBIs and an .806 OPS. He posted strong stats against left-handed pitching, batting .344 with a 1.024 OPS.

When the trade was announced, Tejada was initially added to Norfolk’s roster. But he told reporters today that after the deal he was informed he would join the big league roster.

“We had a couple of conversations a couple of days ago. They let me know they had a trade and that I was coming straight to the big leagues. Good news for me,” he said.

“I come here healthy, first thing. Will concentrate to do my stuff and try to help the team however they need me.”

Tejada played for the Mets from 2010 through 2015. He was released by the Mets in March 2016 and signed with the Cardinals. The Cardinals released him on June 1, 2016, and he signed with the Giants. In 78 major league plate appearances last season for both the Cardinals and Giants, he hit .156/.270/.250.

Tejada has made major league opening day rosters six times, five with the Mets and once with the Cardinals. For his major league career, he has hit .252/.327/.320 in nearly 2,000 at-bats.

While Tejada obviously moves into the utility infielder role with the Orioles, he has made 401 major league starts at shortstop, 110 at second base and 31 at third base.

He said is comfortable playing anywhere on the infield.

“Yeah. I have two or three years playing like that, so it is nothing new for me. If they need me at some different positions, I will be available to play them,” he said.

Tejada is excited to join a contending team and said it feels good to be back in the majors.

“Yeah, really good. A new start here. New team here. Have to just keep working the same way. Work hard and concentrate to help this team,” he added.