When Raimel Tapia made his big league debut at the end of the 2016 season, he was considered one of baseball’s top prospects.
Before the 2011 season, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Colorado Rockies out of the Dominican Republic. At the age of 17, he began his pro career with the DSL Rockies, hitting.262 in 67 games.
In 2012, he was with the same team and batted .316 in 63 games. He made an immediate impact in the United States, winning the Pioneer League batting title with the Grand Junction Rockies in 2013. He also had 20 doubles, 6 triples, and 7 homers, as well as scoring 53 runs and driving in 47.
Before the 2014 season, Baseball America ranked Raimel as the #97 prospect in baseball, his first appearance in the top 100.
He hit .326/.382/.453 in 122 games for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League that season. He had 32 doubles, 9 home runs, scored 93 runs, drove in 72, and stole 33 bases.
As the 2015 season began, his prospect ranking rose to #45 due to his outstanding all-around performance. He spent that season with the California League’s Modesto Nuts, where he hit .305/.333/.467 in 131 games.
He maintained his power, hitting 34 doubles, 9 triples, and 12 home runs. He was selected to participate in the 2015 Futures Game. After the season, he hit .330 in 37 games for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.
He began the 2016 season with the Hartford Yard Goats, Colorado’s new AA Eastern League affiliate, and is now ranked #42 by Baseball America.
He was hitting well over.300 at the midpoint of the season when he was chosen for the World Team at the Futures Game for the second year in a row.
Does Ramiel Tapia Have A Brother?
Ramiel Tapia has three older brothers. His brothers Jose, Antonio, and Rafael Linarez all played professionally, but none of them reached the Major Leagues. Currently, his brother Antonio has a Little League program in the Dominican Republic.