Colorado Rockies Top Ten Prospects For 2017
5. Raimel Tapia, OF
Birthdate: 2/4/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: .328/.361/.458, 8 HR, 23 SB (minor league stats only)
A guy who may be suffering a bit of prospect fatigue, Tapia is a guy that if people had a chance to watch him, they’d love him as a player. He has plenty of quirks in his setup rituals at the plate, akin to Nomar Garciaparra in the routines he has, plus his extended crouch at two strikes that make one think of Chuck Knoblauch at the plate, and the guy will leave you entertained from just watching him on an 0-4 day, let alone if he actually hit!
Tapia’s biggest tool since signing in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic has been his exceptional ability to contact a baseball. That has actually led to some issue in his development, however, as his ability to hit anything thrown to him has led him to not develop the patience and batting eye that you’d possibly like.
Tapia’s biggest tool since signing in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic has been his exceptional ability to contact a baseball
Tapia is a solid fielder with an above average arm, though his instincts don’t exactly play with him being a future center fielder in the mammoth outfield in Colorado, so he’ll likely project in a corner.
Outside of contact, speed is Tapia’s best current ability offensively with the ability to turn many balls into doubles that he didn’t strike soundly due to fringe-plus speed.
Tapia’s swing when he allows himself to sit back on a pitch would lead to a solid power projection, even fringe-plus, which could make his offensive profile on the lines of a guy who gives you a solid average with good power and good speed. In Colorado, that could mean some big time numbers as well.
There’s really little for Tapia to show in the minors at this point, but it remains to be seen if the Rockies are willing to either trade Gerardo Parra or put his significant contract on the bench in order to give Tapia a chance at a big league job.
Next: #4