Miguel Tejada finally came clean about steroids today. One second. What’s that? He came out about being two years older than he really is? Sorry folks. Mix up. Miguel Tejada isn’t the rambunctiously young 31 year old that we all thought he was. The Houston Astros infielder is actually a ramshackle dustbin of years. He’s really 33 years old. His reason for lying?

“I’m a poor kid that wanted to be a professional big leaguer,” he explained as he discussed his reasoning for claiming he was 17 instead of 19 to sign with the Oakland A’s in 1993. “I was thinking that was the only way that I could help my family. By the time we did it, it wasn’t because we wanted to do anything wrong to be a professional.

“The scout just did it just because at that time I was two years older than I (told them). And to play in the Dominican Summer League you got to be like 17. That’s why he changed the year. Because the only change is the year.”

You can’t blame a brotha for trying to escape poverty. But why the admission? Why now?

“The reason I said it now is that I’m coming to a new team and they wanted all my information,” said Tejada, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Dec. 12 in exchange for five players. “They wanted all my information. That’s why I don’t want to lie to them. I tell them the truth.” Tejada doesn’t have to worry about hiding age anymore. He was born on May 25, 1974, not May 25, 1976, as the Astros’ media guide lists.

No longer concealing real age: check. Telling them the real story about those B-12 injections: pending.

Tejada two years older than Astros thought [Chron]
Image [SI]