Tejada back with Orioles, this time at third base

Feb 23, 2010 - 9:30 PM SARASOTA, Fla.(AP) -- Miguel Tejada is eager to learn a new position and put his past to rest.

Tejada is moving from shortstop to third base after rejoining the Orioles, who signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract last month. He took grounders from infield coach Juan Samuel during Baltimore's first full-squad workout Tuesday, handling each one flawlessly, and launched monstrous home runs during batting practice.

"It's the first day with the team, but I'm feeling comfortable," said Tejada, who spent four seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Houston Astros in December 2007. "Since I signed I've been working out at third base, and today was real exciting. I'm like a little kid with a new toy. I'm enjoying today."

Tejada's name surfaced in the Mitchell Report the day after he was traded. He later admitted to an age discrepancy and received a year's probation for lying to congressional investigators about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

"Everybody knows that I've been through a lot of stuff off the field, but it's all behind me now and I feel like I'm going to start a new career," he said. "The last five years I came to spring training with a lot of stuff on my mind. Now my mind is clear. Now I'm just thinking every day what I can do to help this team.

"Everybody knows that I don't hurt (anybody). Whatever happened, happened. After everything is over, I never think that anybody is going to treat me bad because a hundred times, I apologized for what I did. Everybody knows that and everybody knows when I take the field, I respect the game. That's most important."

Tejada took the field for stretching Tuesday with former double-play partner Brian Roberts, who has been diagnosed with a small herniated disk in his back. Roberts participated in every drill, including playing catch with Tejada, but didn't take live batting practice.

"I don't feel like I'm on a new team," Tejada said. "It's only been two years since I left here and most of those guys are still here. I'm excited to come back here and I think that's why you see me hitting the way I'm hitting and that's why you see me joking around with everybody. It's not like I'm coming to a new team."

Tejada began working out at third base in the Dominican Republic after signing with the Orioles.

"He took all the ground balls today and I told him, 'Hey man, you look like a third baseman already,"' Samuel said.

Tejada already knows that fielding bunts will be his biggest challenge.

"I think that's the hardest play for any third baseman in baseball, going forward for the ball with your bare hand. But I'm going to have a month and a half here at spring training to make mistakes before we get to the season," Tejada said. "I know it's not an easy thing to do, changing from short to third, but I love baseball and I'm going to try to do the best I can to do a great job at third base."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said Tejada looked "comfortable" at third.

"I think he will do just fine," Trembley said. "Miggy was excited to be here - smiling, talking to everybody, very well-received. He's full of energy, got a lot of life. He's respected. And he's going to be a real plus for us."