10 Former Pittsburgh Pirates You Didn’t Know Were Still Playing

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 10: Travis Snider #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates can't catch a ball hit by Tommy Medica #14 of the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning of their game on August 10, 2014 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Padres defeated the Pirates 8-2. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 10: Travis Snider #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates can't catch a ball hit by Tommy Medica #14 of the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning of their game on August 10, 2014 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Padres defeated the Pirates 8-2. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 14: Jose Tabata #31 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during the game at PNC Park on June 14, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 14: Jose Tabata #31 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during the game at PNC Park on June 14, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Outfielder Jose Tabata

Everyone’s favorite outfielder, Jose Tabata was a regular part of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010 – 2015. The Pirates acquired Tabata way back in 2010 with Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, and Ross Ohlendorf for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady.

Between 2010 and 2013, Tabata batted for a solid .274/.339/.385 line with a .322 wOBA, and 103 wRC+. He only struck out 14.4% of the time while having a usable 7.8% walk rate. As a defender, he had -1 DRS, a -2.7 UZR/150, and a -0.2 range runs above average. Nothing worth writing home about, but also nothing all that bad either.

Though his overall offensive output took a massive hit between 2014 and 2015. He turned in a dismal .283/.319/.325 line with a sub-.300 wOBA (.288) and sub-90 wRC+ (84) in 227 plate appearances. He still struck out only 14.5% of the time, but his walk rate was nearly cut in half, all the way to just 4%. But he’ll be remembered in baseball history by breaking up Max Scherzer’s perfect game by leaning into an inside pitch with two outs in the 9th inning.

The Pittsburgh Pirates then traded Tabata to the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman/left fielder Michael Morse at the 2015 trade deadline, but never appeared in another game after the trade. After a stint in the Dodger organization, the former prospect signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2017 season, but never appeared in either a major league or minor league game for the team up North.

This past season Tabata played with a team Pirate fans should remember. Now part of the independent Atlantic League, Tabata played in 28 contests with the West Virginia Power where he had 29 hits in 97 plate appearances, 11 walks, and just 10 strikeouts. Plus he had 4 home runs and 7 doubles. This winter, he is playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with former and now current teammate Gorkys Hernandez.