7/17/13

Post Draft: MM's Top 25- #13 RHP Domingo Tapia

Now that the draft is over, Mack's Mets will be reviewing the performances of our organizational Top 25 prospects and re-ranking them based on their individual performances, perceived place on the depth chart, and recent draft signings.

Look to the right of our page to find the current rankings that we have done already

Mack's Mets #13 organizational prospect is......

#13 RHP Domingo Tapia (LR: #12)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 186 lb
Acquired: 2009 international signing, Dominican Republic

2013: (A+) 2-5, 3.82 ERA, 4.8 BB/9, 8.1 K/9, 1.397 WHIP
2012: (A) 6-5, 3.98 ERA, 2.7 BB/9, 8.4 K/9, 1.141 WHIP
2011: (R) 5-5, 3.78 ERA, 2.9 BB/9, 5.4 K/9, 1.320 WHIP
2010: (R) 4-3, 3.45 ERA, 1.9 BB/9, 5.6 K/9, 1.255 WHIP


I'm going to admit this right away and upfront. I personally am not a huge fan of Tapia. A prospect who possesses a 98-100 mph fastball and a slider that clocks in at 95-97 mph should be striking out way more guys in the lower levels in my opinion. Plus I'm still worried that the lack of speed differential between his fastball and his slider could hurt him going forward. Despite all this he's still performing pretty well in the tough Florida State League. In 16 starts he's only given up 3 HR's and has a stellar 7.8 H/9 rate. There is a big concern with the control though as his BB/9 rate has ballooned to 4.8 and he's already thrown more wild pitches this season (6) than he did all of last year (5). The stats are quite skewed though by an awful month of May and June where he compiled an ERA of 5.40 and a BB rate of 5.7/9. He'll need to get more consistent between each start before the Mets send him to Binghamton.

4 comments:

Stephen Guilbert said...

This is too high for Tapia. The arm strength is great but I think we all know he's bound for the bullpen.

Also, slider/fastball velocity difference doesn't matter. It only matters if the slider isn't sliding. If it has 8-12 inches of horizontal movement at 95 MPH, you have one hell of a filthy pitch. The same movement at 91 MPH won't miss more bats. It will miss fewer.

Mack Ade said...

I specifically talked to a team official about Tapia after he was puled the other night.

There is considerable concern about his lack of ability to string together controlled starts.

Frank Viola told me a year ago that he would make a great closer. I agree.

Soto said...

While I am inclined to agree Stephen, the fact of the matter is of all the guys below him he quick possibly has the highest ceiling if he can stick as a starter.

While I agree that he's probably slated as a bullpen guy in the future it hasn't happened yet so there is still a shot at him becoming a big time power pitcher out of the rotation.

Plus I had him #12 last ranking and couldn't find enough reason to drop him more than a spot or two.

Mack Ade said...

Soto, they may all be fodder below #12...