Modesto’s Tapia tabbed to play in Futures Game in Cincinnati

The list of players that have competed in the All-Star Futures Game reads like, well, an All-Star ballot.

Played the Sunday before the MLB’s Midsummer Classic, the Futures Game divides the game’s top minor-league prospects into two squads – one with players born in the United States and one with those born abroad.

Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Jose Fernandez and Felix Hernandez are just a few that have played for the World squad. Talents such as Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Andrew McCutchen, Prince Fielder, Matt Harvey and Madison Bumgarner have donned the USA jersey.

That puts Modesto Nuts center fielder Raimel Tapia, who will play in the 17th annual Futures Game July 12 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, in exclusive company.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” said the 21-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who is hitting .312 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs in 74 games this season. “I had no idea this was coming. I just have to keep working hard and try to get better.”

Tapia won’t be making the flight to Cincinnati alone. Nuts manager Fred Ocasio, who spent a great deal of his youth in Puerto Rico, will be one of the coaches for the World squad.

“I’m honored and happy to be there,” said Ocasio, in his first season as Nuts skipper after guiding Asheville to the South Atlantic League title last season. “And it will be fun to watch Tapia play in that kind of atmosphere.”

Tapia has hit in just about every atmosphere in which he’s played.

As an 18-year-old in his second season in the Dominican Summer League, he hit .316 and swiped 15 bases in 63 games. The following year he hit .357 at Grand Junction, Colo., of the Pioneer (Rookie) League. Last season, with Low-A Asheville (N.C.) of the South Atlantic League, Tapia hit .326 with nine homers, 72 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.

Since signing in 2011, the 6-foot-3 Tapia has added 15 pounds of muscle to his frame, and now weighs 175 pounds. His long and lean body type is similar to that of his idol, Alfonso Soriano, a 1999 alumni of the Futures Game who developed into a bona fide power hitter.

Like Soriano, Tapia hails from the city of San Pedro de Macoris, a veritable baseball factory that has produced the likes of Cano, Sammy Sosa, Rico Carty and Tony Fernandez.

“There have been a lot of players to come out of my city,” said Tapia. “Soriano is my favorite. I’ve known him for a while, and I like the way he carries himself off the field as well as on the field.

“This is something that’s big in my career and I’m just happy to represent my country.”

Aaron Judge, a 2010 graduate of Linden High who went on to star at Fresno State, is slated to play for the U.S. team. Judge, who looks more suited to playing tight end in the NFL at 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, was recently promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the New York Yankees’ organization. The right fielder is hitting .286 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs combined between SWB and Double-A Trenton, N.J.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Modesto’s Tapia tabbed to play in Futures Game in Cincinnati."