Pirates designate OF Jose Tabata for assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated outfielder Jose Tabata for assignment on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated outfielder Jose Tabata for assignment on Sunday, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Biertempfel.

Tabata, 26, batted .289 with four RBIs and a .631 OPS over 27 games. He drew considerable attention during a game against the Washington Nationals on June 20 when Nationals righthander Max Scherzer saw his perfect game attempt ended after 8 2/3 innings when he hit Tabata with a pitch. The pitch struck Tabata on his left elbow, and replays were inconclusive as to whether Tabata stuck out his elbow further into the strike zone.

Over six major-league seasons with the Pirates, Tabata has batted .275 with 17 home runs, 126 RBIs and a .713 OPS over 509 games.

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The Pirates also designated for assignment righthander Chris Volstad and recalled outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and utilityman Steve Lombardozzi from Triple A Indianapolis.

The Pirates entered Sunday’s weekend series finale against the Atlanta Braves 42–32, eight games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

- Mike Fiammetta