Miguel Tejada is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over 16 years. He was born on May 25, 1974, in Bani, Dominican Republic. Tejada started his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1993, playing for the Oakland Athletics. He made his MLB debut in 1997 and played for the Athletics until 2003.
Tejada was a versatile player who played shortstop, third base, and second base. He was known for his strong arm, quick reflexes, and excellent defensive skills. He was also a consistent hitter, with a career batting average of .285. Tejada was a six-time All-Star and won the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2002.
In 2004, Tejada signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He played for the Orioles until 2007, when he was traded to the Houston Astros. Tejada played for the Astros for two seasons before being traded to the San Diego Padres in 2009. He played for the Padres for one season before signing with the San Francisco Giants in 2010.
Tejada's career was not without controversy. In 2005, he was implicated in the BALCO scandal, which involved the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) by several professional athletes. Tejada admitted to using steroids in 2003 but denied using them before or after that season. He was also involved in a perjury case in 2009, where he was accused of lying to Congress about his knowledge of PED use in baseball. Tejada pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Tejada's career started to decline in the late 2000s, and he became a journeyman player, playing for several teams in his final years. He played for the Kansas City Royals in 2011, the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, and the Miami Marlins in 2013. Tejada announced his retirement from baseball in 2014.
Despite the controversies surrounding his career, Tejada was a talented player who made significant contributions to the teams he played for. He finished his career with 2,407 hits, 307 home runs, and 1,302 runs batted in. He was also a two-time Silver Slugger award winner and won the Rawlings Gold Glove award twice.
In conclusion, Miguel Tejada was a talented and versatile baseball player who had a successful career in the MLB. He was a six-time All-Star, won the AL MVP award in 2002, and finished his career with impressive statistics. However, his career was also marred by controversies, including his involvement in the BALCO scandal and perjury case. Despite this, Tejada remains a significant figure in baseball history.
⚾