LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Ruben Tejada, who signed with the Mets at age 16 and went on to take part in one of the more galvanizing moments in franchise history, is back in the organization. Tejada signed a Minor League contract on Saturday, and will report to extended Spring Training.

Tejada, 29, played for the Mets from 2010-15, following Jose Reyes at shortstop. He was their starting shortstop in the 2015 National League Division Series, until Chase Utley broke Tejada's right leg on a slide in Game 2. The Mets rallied around Tejada in what wound up being his last game in the organization to this point.

After leaving as a free agent, Tejada hooked on with the Cardinals, Giants and Orioles. He did not play in the Majors at all last season, but appeared in 101 games for Baltimore's Triple-A Norfolk affiliate.

Overall, Tejada batted .255 with a .653 OPS in six years with the Mets.

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Noah Syndergaard will make his final spring tuneup on the back fields Sunday, to avoid facing the Nationals so soon before Opening Day. In his place, the Mets will turn to a squad of Minor League pitchers in their 1:10 p.m. ET Grapefruit League game at First Data Field. Outfielders Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo are among the Mets regulars likely to play.