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Riverside City College first baseman, Richie Tejeda, 32, prepares to field at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 18.
By: Eric Pacheco
Riverside City College baseball player Richard “Richie” Tejeda announced his commitment to play baseball at the University of Southern California in the early morning of April 22 via his Instagram.
The true freshman, who is a catcher and first baseman, came from Southern California high school powerhouse Orange Lutheran. He was a three-year varsity player according to Maxpreps before becoming a Tiger this past fall.
“I chose RCC because the coaching staff made me feel like family. They come to the field every day excited to work with us and to get us better,” Tejeda said. “Being able to be close to my family and for them to have a chance to watch me play every day was something definitely on my bucket list.”
Tejeda has been one of the Tigers top performers this season. In 28 games he has posted a .353 batting average with four home runs and 22 RBIs. Tejada was sidelined for nearly a month with an oblique injury but picked up right where he left off hitting .324 with a .425 on-base percentage since returning from injury.
Riverside City College batter, Richie Tejeda, 32, swings away at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 12.
“He is what we call an ‘NM’ … No maintenance,” head coach Rudy Arguelles said ecstatically.
Although Tejeda’s time in the black and orange will end up being short, the impact the program has had on him has definitely been felt.
“What led me to RCC in the first place was their history of getting guys to schools like USC,” Tejeda said. “We have some of the best coaches in the country. The fact that they also have full confidence in my game truly allows me to be the best player I can be for the program.”
Tejeda proved to be a leader this season for the Tigers with his on-field play, off-the-field presence, and in the classroom.
“He’s academically off the charts, a wonderful human being, and a fierce competitor. He’s just scratching the surface, and I can’t express how proud the staff and I are of him,” Arguelles said.
Riverside City College first baseman, Richie Tejeda, 32, records a putout at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 18.
Tejeda will join the 12-time national champion –The most in NCAA Division 1 baseball– Trojans this fall as they prepare to embark on their first season in the BIG 10 conference after they depart from the PAC-12 at the end of this academic school year.
“It’s something that I have been dreaming about for a very long time,” Tejeda said. “The coaches have been proven to help develop guys and get players into the big leagues and that’s something that I want to do.”
“The Trojans received a good one,” Arguelles added.
