JOSE TABATA

8/12/88; NDFA '04 (New York Yankees); Venezuela
R/R; 5-11, 160

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2005 R (NYY)
.314
.382
.417
156
5
1
3
15
14
22
6
2006 A (NYY)
.298
.377
.420
319
22
1
5
30
66
15
5
2007 A+ (NYY)
.307
.371
.392
411
16
2
5
33
70
15
7
2008 AA (NYY)
.248
.320
.310
294
9
0
3
26
49
10
2
2008 AA
.348
.402
.562
89
6
2
3
8
18
8
0
2008 R
.455
.538
1.091
11
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
2009 AAA
.276
.333
.410
134
7
1
3
10
18
4
2
2009 AA
.303
.370
.404
228
15
1
2
20
25
7
6

The Pirates obtained Tabata, along with pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen, from the Yankees for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.  The deal was widely characterized—mainly by broadcasters and fans who judge these things entirely by name recognition—as a hosing of Pirates' GM Neal Huntington in his first significant deal.  Instead, while Nady and Marte both missed nearly the entire 2009 season with injuries, Ohlendorf established himself as a solid starter with a chance of being better, Karstens was somewhat useful as a 5th starter/long reliever, McCutchen had a strong AAA season, and Tabata largely re-established himself as a top hitting prospect.

Tabata was very highly regarded from the time the Yankees signed him.  He was considered to have five tool potential, with good speed, a very good bat with the potential to hit for power, and an above average arm for right field.  His showing in low A was very impressive for a 17-year-old and left him high up on most prospect lists.  Instead of improving, though, his power largely disappeared at high A.  He was hit on the right wrist in 2006, cutting short his season.  The wrist bothered him throughout 2007, which may have accounted for the lack of power.  He finally had the hamate bone removed in August.  He was still having problems with it in early 2008 and got off to a horrid start, hitting .200 in April.  He improved somewhat after that, but still didn't hit for any power.  Lingering effects from the surgery could account for this, as hamate surgery can sap a hitter's power for half a year or more.  The fact that Tabata was playing in AA at age 19 is also significant.  Further doubts arose about his makeup after he was suspended twice, once for an on-field incident and once for walking out on his team during a game.  His speed has decreased, too, as his lower body has gotten heavier, which also happened with Jose Castillo.  If all that wasn't enough, he was out with a hamstring pull at the time of the trade.

Tabata went to the GCL for a brief rehab just a few days after the trade and, upon reporting to Altoona, quickly went about addressing the doubts.  His hitting came around dramatically, he stole bases effectively, and he played a decent CF.  Not many people expect him to stay there long-term, but the Pirates sensibly played him there to enhance his value.  There's no way to know what accounted for the turnaround.  It could have been Tabata getting healthy, getting a change of scenery and escaping the exaggerated attention paid to Yankee prospects, or simply adjusting to AA pitching.
 
Surprisingly, Tabata was eligible for the Rule 5 draft—the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he played in the Dominican Summer League in 2004—so he was added to the 40-man roster in the off-season.  Controversy continued to dog Tabata, though, as his wife, who's twice his age, was arrested during spring training for kidnapping a baby.  Indications all along have been that Tabata had no involvement or knowledge, but it had to have been a distraction for him.  On top of that, he's faced continued speculation, none of it supported by any facts, that he's older than claimed.  He started off slowly, then missed nearly two months with a hamstring injury.  He got red hot in July, however, and earned a promotion to AAA.  He started well there, but slumped toward the end of the season.  The questions about his power remained as he didn't show much, although he hit for a little more in AAA than in AA.  He's young enough that it could still come around, though.  Defensively he's solid, apart from his arm which is plenty good enough for RF.  The Pirates moved him there after Gorkys Hernandez joined the Curve, and he split his time between right and center in AAA.  He still runs well, although his base stealing efficiency in 2009 wasn't good.  The Pirates chose not to call Tabata up for September, instead deciding to send him to the Arizona Fall League.  He'll probably open 2009 back in Indianapolis, but he shouldn't be far from claiming a major league job.

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