Infield practice can be just another grind for a minor league baseball team. But it is anything but dull when Oscar Tejeda takes part. The chatter is constant, the jokes and smiles coming often. And if Tejeda is standing next to a teammate, he probably has an arm around him.

So jovial. Doesn’t Tejeda know he’s supposed to be washed up as a prospect?

Oscar Tejeda, who was once on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster although he never made the majors, has bounced around but is back in Boston’s system, showing all that potential again with the Sea Dogs. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

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Or maybe he’s just hitting his stride, ready to realize the expectations placed on him so many years ago.

Tejeda has been in pro baseball so long, it’s easy to forget he’s only 25. He was 16 when he first signed with the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic, receiving a $525,000 bonus.

Tejeda made it to Boston’s 40-man roster – but not the majors – before eventually moving on to two other organizations – the Pirates and Nationals.

Now he’s back with Boston as a minor league free agent. The veteran Tejeda brings his relaxed attitude to the Portland Sea Dogs, where he is batting .354, second-best in the Eastern League.

Tejeda was named the league’s Player of the Week for his efforts last week – batting .467 with six doubles, a triple and 10 RBI.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and it shows in the way he’s swinging the bat,” Manager Billy McMillon said. “He’s matured from the last time I’ve seen him.”

McMillon worked as the hitting coach for low Class A Greenville in 2008-09, when Tejeda was a skinny teenager.

But Tejeda never put up impressive numbers over consistent seasons. His best year was 2010 in advanced Class A Salem, batting .307 with 11 home runs. Boston put him on the 40-man roster after that season and promoted him to Portland, where he played 1½ seasons.

“There are a lot of us in the organization that have put a lot of work in with him. We all know how good he can be,” said Sea Dogs hitting coach Dave Joppie, who was here in 2010-11.

Tejeda batted .249 his first year in Portland and was batting .262 in 2011 when the Red Sox designated him for assignment.

The Pirates claimed him.

Tejeda never gained traction with the Pirates, batting .225 over 1½ seasons, mostly in Double-A (21 games in Triple-A).

He signed a minor league deal with the Nationals last year but spent most of 2014 in advanced Class A. When Tejeda became a free agent again, Boston was among teams contacting him.

“I wanted to come here because I know most of the staff and I feel comfortable here,” Tejeda said.

And Tejeda appears comfortable. Maybe it’s having the prospect label lifted from him.

“No (pressure),” he said. “Just enjoying my time and trying to do my best every day.”

Tejeda began the season in Salem but was brought to Portland on April 19. He’s fit right in.

“He brings a real good presence to our ballclub and our clubhouse,” Joppie said. “He’s in a real comfortable spot right now, and in a real good position to succeed.”

While Tejeda looks casual, he’s not goofing around.

“He has definitely matured,” Joppie said. “It’s been fun for me to watch … the focus that he’s bringing day to day, with his work in the cage, and in batting practice, and in the games; the information he asks for on the opposing pitchers. He’s prepared. It’s not a fluke what he’s doing.”

If Tejeda keeps hitting and showing versatility in the field (he plays multiple positions), he may force a promotion to Triple-A. Then, who knows?

“He’s not putting any pressure on himself,” Joppie said, “but letting his tools speak for themselves – tools we knew he had when he was a younger player.”

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