We have already seen some benefits from the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte deal last summer that send those two to the Yankees for both Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens. Ohlendorf has been pretty impressive and Karstens is a solid spot starter/long relief option. But the crowned jewel of that trade could very well be young OF Jose Tabata.New York parted ways with Tabata due to off the field problems and were simply tired of him. Tabata, at the time of the trade was 19 years old and already in AA. He was struggling in AA, in part to lingering affects from a wrist injury, but the fact he was even there is pretty astounding. His line while playing for Trenton was .248/.320/.310.
Maybe all Tabata needed was a change in scenery because he lit it up for Altoona in the final month of the year posting numbers of .348/.402/.562. He also hit as many homers (3) in 89 AB than he did in 294 AB for Trenton. All this combined him to put up a pretty impressive 1st year of AA ball at the age of 19.
At age 20 now, Tabata is once again in Altoona. He started off the season pretty slow and then missed some time with an injury. But he has come back from that and is currently on a 9-game hitting streak, helping him raise his line to .271/.354/.353. He's hit 2 HR in 170 AB.
Tabata has been compared to Manny Ramirez, and due to the power numbers he is putting up, there is still a lot to be seen before he will ever become the player Manny is. But once again, he's still just 20 years old and has PLENTY of time to develop some pop. Tabata's minor league SLG currently stands at .395, which is decent, but no where near Manny-good. He will have to start hitting more doubles if the home run totals do not come up for him to become the type of player that his ceiling projects him as.
Tabata's hamstring injury may also be affecting his base running abilities as well. Last season, he was successful on 18 of 20 steal opportunities. This year he is just 6 for 11. Hopefully, this will simply be a one-year thing while he still gets over the injury, but it will be another thing, along with the power development to watch out for.
I don't see Tabata as a Manny-type player, but I do see him blossoming into an above average outfielder who will be plenty capable of occupying a corner spot at PNC Park alongside Andrew McCutchen. He has an above average arm and I can still see him developing into a 20 HR guy. It's always possible that he could blossom into more than that, but that's what I would guess he will become. He also has good strike zone judgement. He doesn't strike out all that often and he walks a decent amount, which are very good signs at age 20.
Estimated time to be in the 'Burgh: Mid-2010
Current Top 10:
1) July 18th
2) July 17th
3) Jose Tabata
4) Tony Sanchez
7) Bryan Morris
8) Jeff Locke
10) Daniel McCutchen
