6/9/10: Tabata to bat leadoff in MLB debut

The Pittsburgh Pirates officially announced Wednesday morning that the team has recalled right-handed pitcher Brad Lincoln (#32) from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Lincoln is scheduled to start and make his Major League debut tonight in Washington against the Nationals.

The 25-year-old Lincoln will make his Major League debut four years and three days after the Pirates tabbed him as their number one pick (fourth overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston.

Lincoln went 6-2 with a 3.16 ERA (68.1ip/24er), 55 strikeouts, 14 walks and a .216 batting average against (54-for-250) with Indianapolis this year. In his last two starts, he tossed a combined 13.0 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits. At the time of his promotion to Pittsburgh, Lincoln was tied for third in the International League in wins, ranked first in WHIP (1.00) and fifth in batting average against.

Lincoln allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 11 outings. He also went 3-0 in a four-start stretch from April 25 to May 12 and 5-1 in his last six decisions at Triple-A.

Last year Lincoln ranked third among Pittsburgh farmhands in strikeouts (107) and second in ERA (3.37) in his first full season since missing the entire 2008 campaign following reconstructive surgery to repair ligament damage in his right elbow. He was named to the 2009 All-Star Futures Team and also represented the United States in the World Cup Tournament in Europe, where he went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four games while also picking up the victory in the Gold Medal game against Cuba.

It was also learned Tuesday night that top outfield prospect Jose Tabata would make his MLB debut Wednesday night.

The Pirates made it official this afternoon.

Tabata hit .308 (69-for-224) with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 19 RBI, 42 runs and 25 stolen bases in 53 games with Indianapolis. He currently leads the International League in stolen bases and runs scored while ranking third in hits and ninth in batting average.

The 21-year-old outfielder entered the 2010 season ranked as Pittsburgh's second-best prospect by Baseball America and as the organization's "Best Hitter for Average" according to the same publication. Following last night's game vs. Pawtucket, he also had a league-best 1.000 fielding percentage among International League outfielders, having played 39 games in center field this season and 15 in left field, including each of the last seven.

Last month Tabata finished tied for second in the International League in hits (34) and tied for fourth in runs scored (22) while hitting .318 (34-for-107) in 26 games. Overall this season, he also compiled a .327 batting average with runners in scoring position, a .337 mark with runners on base and hit .322 in 48 games from the leadoff spot.

Tabata was acquired by Pittsburgh along with pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen from the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder Xavier Nady and pitcher Damaso Marte on July 26, 2008. Since becoming a member of the Pirates organization, he has hit .308 (211-for-686) with 74 RBI and 44 stolen bases in 172 games.

Tabata who led the International League with 25 stolen bases, will bat leadoff in his MLB debut. Neil Walker will remain in the 2-hole and Andrew McCutchen will move to No. 3 in the lineup.

Pirates Lineup

1. Tabata lf,

2. Walker 2b,

3. McCutchen cf,

4. Jones 1b,

5. Laroche 3b,

6. Milledge rf,

7. Cedeno ss,

8. Jaramillo c,

9. Lincoln p