Jose Tapia threw well at Bakersfield, saw 7 seasons, AA
.jpg)
Bakersfield Dodger Jose Tapia got some high praise coming out of a June 1988 game against San Bernardino, according to The San Bernardino County Sun.
He'd gone eight innings, while giving up two runs in a no-decision when San Bernardino manager Ralph Dick cited Tapia the next night.
"After playing so well in Fresno, we came in here and faced one of the best pitchers in the league (Dodgers starter Jose Tapia) with the wind blowing in, and changed strategy," Dick told The Sun.
Tapia pitched well enough that year at Bakersfield to make AA San Antonio. However, in a career that was credited at seven seasons, he never got higher.
Tapia's career began in 1986, signed by the Dodgers as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.
Tapia started with the Dodgers in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 29 relief appearances and had a 2.06 ERA.
He moved to single-A Vero Beach for 1987 and saw 45 outings, two starts. He went 5-6, with a 5.47 ERA.
By late July 1987, Tapia, along with a teammate, had gotten in his work as a reliever his team could turn to, though his manager looked for more, The Indian River Press Journal wrote.
"We've depended a lot on Jose Tapia and Bill Bartels," Vero Beach manager John Shoemaker told The Press Journal. "They've done it at times, they just haven't been consistent."
Tapia played 1988 at single-A Bakersfield and saw eight games at San Antonio. He went 8-9 between them, with a 3.89 ERA. His showing at San Antonio, though, included 10 earned runs in 7.2 innings of work.
Tapia played again at Bakersfield in 1989 for an abbreviated one-outing season. He then returned from shoulder surgery mid-1990 at Bakersfield. He went four hitless in his first start back. Overall, he went 1-2, with a 3.93 ERA that year in 13 outings, 6 starts.
Tapia saw San Antonio in 1991, but for just two relief appearances, his last in the minors. He's credited as making Taiwan briefly six years later to end his career.
- Indian River Press Journal, Aug. 1, 1987: Dodgers Still Digging Out From May
- San Bernardino County Sun, June 26, 1988: Bakersfield's mistakes help Spirit gain 11-inning victory
Made the Majors:1,450-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,129-68.3%-X