Colorado Rockies: Who deserves an All-Star Game spot

Catcher

Current Starter (voting leader): Buster Posey

Current Rockies Starters: Elias Diaz and Dom Nunez

Can They Earn a Spot: No

Elias Diaz has been a top 5 defensive catcher, but that’s it. Diaz and Nunez have had fun moments, but they have been awful at the plate. Diaz has the worst OPS+ among NL catchers and Nunez has the eighth-worst OPS+. They will not make a roster.

Maybe someday the Rockies can find the offensive catcher of their dreams, but that day is not today. Let’s move on.

Outfield

Current Starters (voting leaders): Ronald Acuna Jr., Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker

Current Rockies Starters: Charlie Blackmon, Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson, and Yonathan Daza

Can They Earn a Spot: Probably not

Charlie Blackmon is slumping again at the worst time for his All-Star hopes, but Raimel Tapia is surging yet again. Unfortunately, the voting process is a bit of a popularity contest, and the young names that aren’t Charlie Blackmon are unknown.

The All-Star ballot doesn’t differentiate between outfield positioning, so let’s look at the outfield as a whole.

When looking at the data, there is one name that sticks out above the rest when looking at the outfield as a single position: Raimel Tapia. Among all outfielders, Tapia is top 5 in the NL in runs, hits, doubles, and batting average, and is seventh in steals. How do the other Rockies do? Garrett Hampson is third in steals, fourth in dWAR, first in Triples and is just outside the top 10 in hits and runs. Charlie Blackmon is in the top 10 for RBI and walks and that is about it. Finally, if Nico Hoerner can be considered, then so should Yonathan Daza, who is fifth among unqualified outfielders in batting average and tied for 10th in dWAR.

Looking at that, you can see why there has been a small yet vocal push to see Raimel Tapia make his way onto the roster, and the numbers suggest he could make it. While his defense has only been at around the middle of the pack, he has been a lightning player who has been very fun to see excel this season.

Based on the data, Tapia might not deserve to be a starter in the All-Star Game, but there is certainly a strong case that he should make the roster.