Colorado Rockies: Raimel Tapia getting opportunity to take over in right

A couple of games into spring training its safe to assume, after not appearing in any games, that Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black has zero confidence in Charlie Blackmon or ace Jon Gray.

OK, all jokes aside, this early into spring training, there is little to analyze from the first handful of games. But there has been one huge takeaway early on for the Rockies … Raimel Tapia will be given every opportunity to win the starting job in right field. As our own Noah Yingling noted this weekend in this article, the success of Tapia could be an omen for the Rockies this season.

Going into spring, I stated that I believed that Tapia was destined to start the season at Triple-A in Albuquerque in order for him to work on his defense. I was dead wrong on that one. The hand injury to Gerardo Parra that will keep him out until late March has thrust Tapia straight into the conversation for starting playing time.

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A month ago, I asked Patrick Saunders in the Denver Post Mailbag if the Rockies were considering moving Charlie Blackmon out of the leadoff role in order to beef up the middle of the lineup. He asked Chuck and it was confirmed by him and Bud Black that the move could be a possibility.

The chances of moving him into the middle of the order increases if Tapia can prove he can take control of the everyday duties. He’s already shown the Rockies’ management that he is committed to getting stronger and more durable after bulking up 15 pounds this off season. That extra muscle has already paid off as he homered Friday in the first game of the spring. Tapia taking over the leadoff spot would allow Black to strengthen the middle of the order and take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Nolan Arenado.

Tapia claiming the starting job has other implications. I have predicted that the Rockies would be looking to trade Parra and his expiring contract. The emergence of Tapia would make Parra even more expendable and lead to a trade sooner than expected. As a valuable trade piece, the Rockies could use Parra to fill other weaknesses.

Next: How did Colorado hit against various velocities in 2017?

Like Noah stated, Tapia success could be an omen and I agree. His success can/will take pressure off the rest of the team and set up the Rockies for a great 2018 season.