Jose Tabata
Encyclopedia
José Nicolas Tábata is a professional baseball outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He was an international signee (2005) of the New York Yankees
and, by 2008, became the Yankees' No. 2 prospect. That same year, Tábata was traded to the Pirates and made his Major League Baseball
debut in June 2010.
when he hit .314 for the Gulf Coast Yankees
in 2005.
In 2006, Tábata batted .298 for the Low A Charleston RiverDogs
. The same year, he was selected to participate in the XM Satellite Radio
All-Star Futures Game
as a member of the World Team, which consisted of 25 highly touted prospects from across the globe. In the game, which was part of the festivities for the 2006 All-Star Game
at PNC Park
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, he played center field while going 1-for-3 with a single
off fellow Yankees prospect Phil Hughes.
In 2007, Tábata played for the Single-A Tampa Yankees
.
, Jeff Karstens, and Daniel McCutchen
from the Yankees in exchange for Xavier Nady
and Dámaso Marte
.
Tábata was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis
to make his major league debut on June 9, 2010. He subsequently singled for his first major league hit in his first at bat. In the top of the fourth, with Neil Walker
at bat, Tábata collected the first stolen base of his career. He then tallied his first run of his career, on a single from Walker on the next pitch.
In 2010, he batted .299, and led National League left fielders in range factor
/game (2.09). He tied for 8th in the voting for NL Rookie of the Year, behind Ike Davis
of the New York Mets.
On August 21, 2011, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington
announced a contract extension for Tabata through 2019. Tabata signed with the Pirates through 2016 for $14.75 million guaranteed, with a $250,000 buyout, and an additional three club option years for 2017–2019.
At the time of his contract extension, Tabata had a .271 batting average with 14 doubles, one triple, four homeruns, 15 stolen bases and 17 RBI in 76 games.
after allegedly kidnapping a 2-month-old girl in Florida
by posing as an immigration officer; the baby was found unharmed in a shopping center later the same day. Tabata told the media that Pereira, whom he married in January 2008, had told him that she had given birth and that the baby was his.
In 2010, the Pirates organization acknowledged that Tábata may be older than originally thought, perhaps in his mid 20s.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He was an international signee (2005) of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and, by 2008, became the Yankees' No. 2 prospect. That same year, Tábata was traded to the Pirates and made his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut in June 2010.
Yankees system
At the age of 17 and in his first year of professional ball, Tábata led the Yankees farm system in batting averageBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
when he hit .314 for the Gulf Coast Yankees
Gulf Coast Yankees
The Gulf Coast League Yankees are the Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. The GCL Yankees play in Tampa, Florida at the Yankee Complex...
in 2005.
In 2006, Tábata batted .298 for the Low A Charleston RiverDogs
Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...
. The same year, he was selected to participate in the XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
as a member of the World Team, which consisted of 25 highly touted prospects from across the globe. In the game, which was part of the festivities for the 2006 All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
at PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, he played center field while going 1-for-3 with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off fellow Yankees prospect Phil Hughes.
In 2007, Tábata played for the Single-A Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On July 26, 2008, Tábata was acquired by the Pirates with Ross OhlendorfRoss Ohlendorf
Curtis Ross Ohlendorf is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is known for his hard-biting sinker. He can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball, and he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball.-High School and College...
, Jeff Karstens, and Daniel McCutchen
Daniel McCutchen
Daniel Thomas McCutchen is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is of no relation to fellow Pirates player Andrew McCutchen.-Early life:...
from the Yankees in exchange for Xavier Nady
Xavier Nady
Xavier Clifford Nady VI is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is a free agent.-Amateur career:The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior...
and Dámaso Marte
Dámaso Marté
Dámaso Marté Sabinon is a Dominican Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Chicago White Sox .-Seattle Mariners:...
.
Tábata was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
to make his major league debut on June 9, 2010. He subsequently singled for his first major league hit in his first at bat. In the top of the fourth, with Neil Walker
Neil Walker (baseball)
Neil Martin Walker is an American professional baseball second and third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...
at bat, Tábata collected the first stolen base of his career. He then tallied his first run of his career, on a single from Walker on the next pitch.
In 2010, he batted .299, and led National League left fielders in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
/game (2.09). He tied for 8th in the voting for NL Rookie of the Year, behind Ike Davis
Ike Davis
Isaac Benjamin "Ike" Davis is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the New York Mets. He and his father Ron Davis, who pitched in the majors for 11 years, are the 197th father-son combination to have both played in the major leagues.He led his high school team to three straight Arizona state...
of the New York Mets.
On August 21, 2011, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington
Neal Huntington
Neal Alden Huntington is the 12th person to serve as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball organization...
announced a contract extension for Tabata through 2019. Tabata signed with the Pirates through 2016 for $14.75 million guaranteed, with a $250,000 buyout, and an additional three club option years for 2017–2019.
At the time of his contract extension, Tabata had a .271 batting average with 14 doubles, one triple, four homeruns, 15 stolen bases and 17 RBI in 76 games.
Personal
On March 23, 2009, Tábata's wife, Amalia Tábata Pereira, who is 23 years his senior, was arrested and charged with abductionKidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
after allegedly kidnapping a 2-month-old girl in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
by posing as an immigration officer; the baby was found unharmed in a shopping center later the same day. Tabata told the media that Pereira, whom he married in January 2008, had told him that she had given birth and that the baby was his.
In 2010, the Pirates organization acknowledged that Tábata may be older than originally thought, perhaps in his mid 20s.