What makes sports special? What keeps fans more engaged in the game? It’s almost always heartwarming and wholesome moments that involve fans and their forever beloved superstars. This time, it was the former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, Jose Tabata, who met a practicing kid in the neighborhood and made his day.

Tabata debuted in the Major League for the Pirates in 2010. From 2005 to 2007, Tabata played with the Yankees farm system before eventually moving to the Pirates. During his 6-year Major League career, Tabata played 509 games at a BA of 0.275. Associating his career to numbers, one would think that he was just a regular player, but there was more to it.

Jose Tabata sashays around winning hearts

Being distant from the headlines for a while, Jose Tabata was spotted in his neighborhood helping a kid practice his tee work. While the kid practiced outside his house, Jose Tabata walked up to him and said, “I’ve been admiring your swing for a couple days now.”

As can be seen, Tabata comments on all his shots and keeps dropping some advice. While practicing, he also said, “In the game it’s different, in the game swing. But in the practice, we make sure we’re working like perfect.”

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All in all, Tabata shared a very wholesome moment with the kid and, in extension, the entire baseball fanbase. Disregarding our favorite teams and players, it’s moments like these that makes us to fall in love with a sport.

Jose Tabata’s life after leaving Pittsburgh Pirates

Markedly, Tabata played for the Pirates from 2010 to 2015. However, once his stint with the Pirates concluded, Jose never played in the Major League again. Since then, Tabata appeared in the Little leagues with multiple teams like the LA Dodgers, followed by the Tigres de Quintana Roo (Mexican League) to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. In 2018, he was with the York Revolution, followed by the Guerreros de Oaxaca (Mexican League). In 2021, he played for West Virginia Power, followed by the Sultanes de Monterrey (Mexican League). Since August 2021, Tabata has been a free agent.

While Jose’s success as a player doesn’t make him go down in history books, he pivoted the Pirates’ postseason appearance in 2013, after a 20-year slump. Do you think he deserved more chances in his playing career?