Teufel spent two seasons as the Minnesota Twins‘ everyday second baseman. Considered deficient defensively, he led American League second basemen in assists in 1984 but established an AL record for fewest double plays by a second baseman in 150 or more games (81).
Teufel was traded to the New York Mets in January 1986 to be the righthanded-hitting platoon partner for Wally Backman. Though he hit only .247 in the Mets’ 1986 World Championship season, Teufel lined 20 doubles in 279 at-bats. He became popular wiggling his butt at the plate, which Mets fans christened the “Teufel Shuffle.” Teufel hit a career-high .308 in 1987 with 14 home runs, 29 doubles, and 55 walks in 299 at-bats.
Handed the everyday job in 1988, Teufel struggled and then went on the disabled list. He hit a career-low .238, though he did have 20 doubles for the fifth straight season. The highly touted Gregg Jefferies was given the second base job in 1989 and Teufel was reduced to a useful utility role. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1991 for Garry Templeton.
Always a good fastball hitter and effective against left-handed pitching, Teufel provided some pop for the Padres, posting a .435 slugging percentage in 1992 against lefties. However, he batted just .224 overall, a result of fading bat speed and age. Teufel never accumulated more than 341 at-bats in a season from 1986 until his major-league career ended at the conclusion of the 1993 campaign.
