Top 30 Prospects: #3 Jose Tabata November 23, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Jose Tabata, Top 30 Prospects.trackback
Age: 18
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 160 lbs
Drafted: International Signing, 2005, out of Venezuela
Position: Outfield
Bats: Right
Tools: Tabata is a 2-tool player (for now). He has an amazing ability to get base hits everywhere, has plus plus plate discipline, and has a plus glove in the outfield. His power is developing, and the lack of it thus far is explicable as far as a debilitating hamate bone injury.
Performance: Tabata played through said injury all season, until he finally couldn’t in August and his season ended after 103 games. He did, however, hit 5 HRs in the unfriendly-to-hitter’s league that is the FSL. Tabata does have gap power as is, but, again it was largely sapped due to this injury. For as much as he could, however, he mashed the FSL, hitting .307 with 5 HRs and 54 RBI in 411 ABs in 103 G. He walked 33 times and struck out only 70 times, owning a .371 OBP and .392 SLG.
Outlook: Tabata’s wrist injury that has lasted roughly 2 seasons is finally healed–or it’s supposed to be, at least. He should finally develop some power, but there are legitimate concerns considering the importance of the wrists for power production. He probably will never hit 40HRs yearly, but he should develop into a legitimate slugger always in contention for batting titles and showing a nice glove in the outfield. Tabata figures next year to start in AA, and could earn himself a September callup if he excels and impresses.
Ceiling: A, Health: B-, Comparison: Manny Ramirez lite
He actually weighs anywhere from 200-220 pounds. The guy is huge.
That’s what I thought, that he was battling a weight problem. But minorleaguebaseball.com says 160 and so does the always-reliable E.J. Fagan’s site, Pinstripe Potentials.
“has plus plus plate discipline,” is your apreciation for 78 BB in 992 minor leagues AP? Looks more as a very raw strike zone knowledge.
[...] As we know, RF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte were traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Daniel McCutchen, and RHP Jeff Karstens. Tabata hit an extremely [...]