Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Tejeda pitched at both Florida and Florida State in his two collegiate seasons with subpar results at both. After posting a 5.95 ERA in 19 2/3 innings primarily as a reliever in 2024, he headed to the Cape Cod League (where he also spent part of ’23) and struck out 16 in 11 1/3 frames. That performance in the premier summer collegiate league likely helped him go to the Nationals in the 14th round as a Draft-eligible sophomore in ’24, and he signed for $225,000. Washington moved Tejeda into a starting role in the pros, and he handled himself well with a 4.03 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 87 innings between Single-A and High-A.

Entering his age-22 season, Tejeda will pop most for his size at 6-foot-8, and as you might expect, that leads to huge extension that gets him right on top of batters. He sat 91-94 mph with a pair of fastballs from his low three-quarters slot, and early spring reports indicate that he’s been sitting mid-90s more comfortably to begin his second full season, making at-bats even more uncomfortable for hitters. His low-80s sweeper and shorter mid-80s slider gives him two breaking ball variations, and the former is his best whiff generator as it runs away from righties. The fade on his 83-85 mph splitter shows promise, though lefties have given Tejeda a splits problem early in his career.

Tejeda’s control numbers are significantly better on the pro side, though he relies on batters expanding the zone horizontally. Because of his limited usage in school and change in role, he’s more raw than the typical collegiate arm, especially one from the 14th round. Holding the velo and control gains would give him a decent shot at being a No. 4/5 starter in D.C.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Tejeda is the rare former Florida Gator and Florida State Seminole, having transferred from Gainesville to Tallahassee between his freshman (2023) and sophomore (2024) years. He posted a 5.95 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 17 walks in 19 2/3 innings in the FSU bullpen but helped his stock with a productive move to starting in the Cape Cod League just before the Draft. The Nationals saw enough to take Tejeda, who was eligible as a sophomore, in the 14th round in 2024 and signed him for $225,000 ($75,000 of which counted toward their bonus pool). The right-hander has transitioned cleanly into the Single-A Fredericksburg rotation this season.

Standing 6-foot-8, Tejeda moves smoothly on the bump and generates huge extension to get right on top of batters. His fastball averaged around 95 mph in relief with the Seminoles but has been in the 91-94 mph range (touching 96) with the FredNats. The extension helps cut down the decision window and helps it play above the so-so velo. Tejeda plays off the running heater with a low-80s sweeping slider diving down and gloveside that has his highest whiff rate, and he can morph it into a shorter mid-80s cutter too. Tejeda’s 82-85 mph splitter has shown nice growth in the pros, and it flashes above average with fade.

The Florida native’s control numbers are massively improved in pro ball, though he relies on a healthy amount of chase to get there. Because of the new role and his age relative to other college picks, he’s been allowed to ease into the full-season waters in the Carolina League, and more disciplined hitters will provide tougher tests higher up soon. But for now, the Nationals have developed a legit starting pitching prospect from the back end of the Draft.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Washington Nationals Prospects.
	07/22/2025	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Wilmington Blue Rocks from Fredericksburg Nationals.
	07/22/2025	Wilmington Blue Rocks activated RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	07/22/2025	Wilmington Blue Rocks activated RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	04/02/2025	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals.
	03/06/2025	Washington Nationals Prospects activated RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	07/29/2024	Washington Nationals signed RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	07/17/2024	Wareham Gatemen released RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	06/24/2024	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Wareham Gatemen.
	06/04/2024	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Wareham Gatemen.
	03/25/2024	College Workout activated RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr..
	03/07/2024	RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. assigned to Florida State Seminoles.
	09/28/2021	1B Yoel Tejeda and assigned to SouthSouth.
	09/23/2021	1B Yoel Tejeda and assigned to National.
	07/17/2021	1B Yoel Tejeda and assigned to PG National 8 - Purple.
	07/13/2021	PG National 6 - Navy activated 1B Yoel Tejeda.
	06/04/2021	High School Workout activated 1B Yoel Tejeda.
	06/04/2021	High School Workout activated 1B Yoel Tejeda.