Tabata crashes into wall on catch, exits with injury
Bucs outfielder has mild concussion-like symptoms, to undergo further tests
CINCINNATI -- Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata was removed from Wednesday's game after making a spectacular catch of Brayan Pena's fifth-inning line drive an instant before slamming into the left-field wall of Great American Ball Park.
Tabata, who was replaced by Starling Marte, was diagnosed with mild concussion-like symptoms. He will be further examined in Pittsburgh, the club's homebound destination following Wednesday's conclusion of a nine-game trip.
Tabata remained prone on the field as head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk, trailed by manager Clint Hurdle, sprinted out to check on him.
Tabata went into the wall left-shoulder first, but Tomczyk's on-field examination of him appeared to focus on the outfielder's jaw.
"He hit the wall pretty well," said center fielder Andrew McCutchen, the first teammate on the scene. "Regular speed, you don't see a whole lot. I'm sure when you slow it down it looks a lot worse. It was a heck of a play by him, sacrificing his body for his team. A very good catch."
At the time of the catch. the Bucs trailed by a slim 1-0 margin.
After a few minutes, Tabata walked off the field, flexing his jaw.
"Talk about laying out and making a catch and hitting the wall hard," Hurdle said following the Pirates' 4-0 defeat. "I'm just glad he was able to walk off the field. He was responsive. We'll see how he feels [Thursday]."