Written by Greg Fertel
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07 March 2007
So, finally, the Tabata thing. After how long I've put it off, you'd expect it to be somewhat of a novel, but I kept it decently short. Sorry about the lack of updates on my part this week, it's HSPA and SAT week and things have been crazy. I'd like to welcome EJ to the team and thank him for saving my non-blogging behind. We're lucky to have such a stat-head here. Now, for the real stuff.....
The Yankees picked up sixteen year old Jose Tabata early in 2005 from Venezuela. Instead of remaining for a Venezuela Summer League like so many of his future teammates, Jose left straight for Florida to join the Gulf Coast League.
Even though he was playing in a new country, completely submerged in a new culture and language, Tabata fell right into place on the baseball diamond. His first year stats were nothing to scoff at; he put up a .314 batting average and a solid .382 OBP. His K/BB ratio, a paltry .933, showed that he had patience at the plate. Granted, GCL pitchers are not exactly known for their control, but having a sub-one K/BB is always a good sign so early.
In 2006, Tabata moved up to A ball in Charleston, South Carolina. Against developing young arms he hit .298 and slugged .420 with a .377 OBP. Faced with more than double the amount of at-bats that he had in rookie ball, Tabata walked 30 times and struck out 66. He showed an ability to drive in runs, knocking in 51 RBI including 5 homeruns. Known for a quick bat, it is only a matter of time before Tabata builds himself up and unleashes his potential to be one of the next great power hitting prospects. Not by far the quickest foot in the Yankees farm, Tabata still has decent speed, stealing 15 bases last year and having 23 extra base hits. In 2006 winter ball, Tabata put up a .288 average in 18 games and drove in five runs. He showed patience at the plate again, walking as many times as he struck out (11) and earning a .431 OBP.
Looking strictly at stats, it would seem that Tabata's only weakness is his judgement on the basepaths. Getting caught stealing three times in four attempts in winterball seems pretty bad, and at class A last year he scored 15 bags in 20 attempts. As he matures, Tabata should learn how to manuever the base paths more effectively. Fielding mistakes and throwing errors will also be minimized hopefully this year and as Tabata continues to move up the ranks.
After only two years in the Yankees farm, a now 18 year old Jose Tabata was ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees' number 2 prospect, behind Phil Hughes, and called the best average hitter in the system. He is the youngest upper-ranked prospect in a system where many hopefuls have yet to step beyond Charleston or Tampa. 2007 should be the first time he rises above A level, hopefully mid-season, and it will be a chance for him to rise to the occasion and prove, once again, that the terribly underrated Yankees farm has another young trick up its sleeve.
