Getting to Know Quad Cities RHP Felipe Tejada

When I was in Tri-City last season, I couldn't help but notice RHP Felipe Tejada. There was a lot of down time because of rain delays during that trip and Tejada filled the void with his larger than life personality. I joked that I could follow him around all day with a camera.

Felipe Tejada - July 2018

Photo by Jayne Hansen

This season Tejada has stood out for me for a different reason. In 15 appearances (six starts) for the Quad Cities River Bandits, Tejada is 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.150 WHIP and has held opposing hitters to a .184 batting average. He has walked 30 and struck out 68 in 60 innings of work.

Felipe Tejada - July 2019

Photo by Jayne Hansen

The 21-year old Tejada was signed by the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in September 2014 and Quad Cities Pitching Coach Erick Abreu (formerly a coach in the DSL) has seen him from the start, "I've had Tejada for the last four years. Another kid that came a long way from the Dominican Republic. He's such a hard worker. He got strong. He improved his velo. He added his sidearm slider and two-seam. He competes really well. Big heart out there. Really good kid too. He is very positive always. Always trying to help his teammates. Always trying to get better."

One of the keys to Tejada's great season is his vast pitch repertoire. Quad Cities Manager Ray Hernandez said of Tejada, "Tejada's been really good. He's put a few (good games) together now. He can do everything." Hernandez joked, "He's got 15 pitches he can go through from three different arm slots. No, he's got two arm slots. He's got a lot of pitches, got a lot of things he can do to right handed hitters and left handed hitters. He's developed really well with Abreu."

I also asked Quad Cities catcher Cesar Salazar to weigh in with what he thought of Tejada. He told me, "He throws a bunch of pitches. He has a full, full arsenal of pitches. He has two arm angles and he pretty much masters both arm angles. He can throw strikes from both of them and he can throw all five pitches for strikes. And he's not afraid to throw them in any count. I think that works a lot in his favor. He has a lot of confidence in his pitches and he likes to attack the strike zone a lot. I think the ability for him to throw all five pitches in any count, that makes him so good."

Now, on to the interview ...

Thank you for your time, Felipe, and best of luck as your season continues!!

Other recent interviews
Franny Cobos and Juan Pablo Lopez
Peyton Battenfield
AJ Lee