FREDERICK -- With one swing last night, Miguel Tejada pronounced himself ready to return to the middle of the Orioles' lineup. In his second and last rehabilitation game, Tejada went 2-for-2 with a bases-empty home run and a walk in Single-A Frederick's game against the Winston-Salem Warthogs.
Next up are the New York Yankees. Tejada, who said he felt no discomfort in his left wrist that cost him more than a month on the disabled list and his consecutive-games streak, will be starting at shortstop when the Orioles begin a series tonight with their American League East rivals at Camden Yards. It will start with the completion of their June 28 game that was suspended in the top of the eighth inning.
"I'm ready to go, not just because I hit the ball hard," Tejada said. "Today, my hand feels [stronger] than it did yesterday. I'm ready to go."
Batting cleanup for the Keys last night, Tejada saw 12 pitches in three plate appearances before he was removed after the top of the seventh inning.
He went 2-for-5 with a walk and two RBIs in his two-game rehab stint that started Wednesday at Double-A Bowie. Tejada hasn't played in the majors since June 21, the day after he was hit by a fastball from San Diego Padres reliever Doug Brocail.
"It's not that I'm going to go up there and kill the league right away," said Tejada, who acknowledged that it might take a little while for his timing to return. "I'm going to go up there and try to get used to a major league baseball game."
Tejada's third-inning home run, off an 0-2 pitch from Winston-Salem starter Kyle McCulloch in Tejada's second plate appearance, cleared the left-field wall and traveled out of Harry Grove Stadium.
"To hit it to left field, I had to go all the way through with my hand," he said. "To hit the ball with power, it felt good. I felt my hand was strong."
He drew a four-pitch walk in his first plate appearance, eliciting boos from a near-capacity crowd of 6,428 that otherwise cheered Tejada's every move. In his final plate appearance, Tejada hit a grounder that hit off the glove of second baseman C.J. Lang and trickled into center. But center fielder Paulo Orlando recovered it and threw out Tejada at second when he tried to stretch it into a double.
Defensively, Tejada got three assists and snagged a line drive. He was unable to field a ball to his right in the third inning, the ball hitting the heel of his glove.
Tejada went 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout with Double-A Bowie on Wednesday. He wondered how his wrist would feel after his first game action since the game after suffering the injury. But he said it felt strong and pointed to his batting practice yesterday, which featured several home runs, as proof.
"I was hitting like I used to be hitting before I got my injury," he said.
With Tejada's activation today, Brandon Fahey or Luis Hernandez is expected to be demoted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles went 16-12 without Tejada.
"It's good to see the team like this," said Tejada, who had a lengthy autograph session after the game. "We've been playing pretty good, and I hope when I come back, we will continue to play like that."
Tejada voiced his support for interim manager Dave Trembley.
"I think he should be the manager this year and next year, too," Tejada said. "They have to give a shot to him. You never know. This guy could be one of the best managers in the big leagues if they give him an opportunity. So far, [he's done] a great job."
jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com