Tabata comes off DL; Bucs option Cumpton

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates activated outfielder Jose Tabata on Wednesday and optioned pitcher Brandon Cumpton to Triple-A Indianapolis. Tabata started in right field and batted seventh against the Phillies, and said before the game that he still feels some discomfort and is about "85 percent."

Tabata has been on the disabled list with a left oblique strain since May 25. He went 5-for-28 in nine rehab games with Indy, and has a .272/.337/.407 slash line in 81 at-bats for the Pirates in 2013.

Entering Spring Training in great shape and with high expectations, Tabata said it wasn't too frustrating to be sidelined for a month, because that's the way things go sometimes.

"You've got to keep going," he said. "That's life. That's baseball. I'm here today, so thank you, God."

The Pirates have primarily used Travis Snider and Garrett Jones in right field this season, and the position has given the club its second lowest batting average and OPS at any spot besides shortstop.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Tabata will be given the opportunity to be the club's everyday right fielder, and added that the 24-year-old was in a "very good spot" before the year began.

"We're playing with a lot of passion, a lot of pride. He needs to be a part of that," Hurdle said. "I'm not all caught up in the numbers part of it, but I've got to see the fire and the passion."