Colorado Rockies: 2 areas where Raimel Tapia can make improvements

There is no question that Colorado Rockies outfielder Raimel Tapia has made big strides at the plate since his Major League debut in September of 2016. However, like any big leaguer, there are areas of his game where improvement can mean taking the proverbial next step in his career.

At 27, Tapia is in the midst of the prime of his career and, over the last two-plus seasons, he has had the opportunity to showcase his skills at the plate, as well as the swagger that has made him a favorite among so many Rockies fans.

On Sunday, Colorado manager Bud Black said that Tapia has, “strong conviction and belief in his ability.” He displayed that on Saturday night in a 14-6 Colorado win in Arizona, logging his third career four-hit game.

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There are a couple of other numbers to know when it comes to Tapia’s recent success at the plate. First, he’s batting .315 (87-for-276) over the past two seasons. That’s the second-highest batting average in the National League over that span (minimum of 250 at-bats) behind Trea Turner (.327).

Second, he’s hitting .320 as a leadoff hitter since the start of the 2020 campaign, good enough for third in MLB.

So, yes, there’s plenty to celebrate, but there are also a couple of areas where Tapia has the opportunity to improve his game. Black shared those two things on Sunday, so let’s take a look at those comments and the numbers behind them.