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ALTOONA -- While he was a rising star in the New York Yankees farm system, Jose Tabata got a bad vibe about the Pirates.

"I heard not too many good things about the Pirates organization," Tabata said. "But now that I'm here, I can see it's totally different from what I heard."

Tabata came to the Pirates on July 26, as part of a six-player trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to New York. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old outfielder played his first home game for Double-A Altoona.

"I feel like I am lucky to be traded to the Pirates," Tabata said through a translator. "This is a huge opportunity for me to make it to the majors.

"When I heard who was in the trade, I felt like I was 8-feet tall. I must be a pretty talented player for them to trade two guys like Nady and Marte for me."

In his first nine games with the Curve, Tabata went 14 for 39 (.359). He's flashed all the tools -- at the plate, on the bases and in center field -- that made him the Yankees' No. 2 prospect.

Tabata got loud applause last night at Blair County Ballpark as he settled in for his first at-bat against Portland left-hander Kris Johnson. He bounced a single up the middle.

"My first impression has been really, really good," Altoona manager Tim Leiper said.

However, Tabata did not arrive with an unblemished reputation.

On April 27, while playing for Double-A Trenton, Tabata was suspended for leaving the ballpark while a game was still in progress. Frustrated after a strikeout, Tabata slammed his bat and bolted on his teammates.

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The Tabata File

Jose Tabata

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 170 pounds

Bats/throws: Right/right

Notable: Was signed on his 16th birthday by the Yankees out of Venezuela as an amateur free agent. ... Played for World Team in 2006 Futures Game at PNC Park, going 1 for 3. ... Batted .298 in his full-season debut with Class A Charleston. ... Hit first homer as a Pirates prospect Saturday against New Hampshire. It was his fifth homer of the season.

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The day after the trade, the Curve played against Trenton. Leiper went to Trenton manager Tony Franklin, Tabata's former teammates and even clubhouse attendants and asked about Tabata's attitude.

"Everybody had good things to say about him," Leiper said. "The things he's done are well-documented. But the one thing everybody said is, nobody felt worse about it than he did."

Leiper believes Tabata was affected by the expectations that come with playing in the Yankees' system. When Tabata had to deal with being injured and struggling in the field for the first time, he overreacted.

"The Yankees are such a fabled organization, so there's more pressure there," Tabata said. "Everyone is following you; how you're doing. Here, I feel more ... freedom. I feel comfortable on this team. I feel more ready to play."

Tabata was rehabbing from a hamstring injury when the Pirates acquired him, so he was sent to the complex in Bradenton, Fla. Being away from the daily grind for a couple of extra weeks gave Tabata time to unwind and regroup.

"He got a fresh start," Leiper said. "The three things we told him when he got here were: run hard, make sure you hit every cutoff man and have the best time you can possibly have playing the game of baseball. He's done all three."

Tabata has made no waves in the Curve clubhouse. And he was not eager to discuss his transgressions with Trenton.

"No matter what happened, I always come to the ballpark ready to play," Tabata said. "I've put that stuff away and I want to just keep going."

Growing up in Anzoategui, Venezuela, Tabata's favorite player was Roberto Clemente. Tabata said he is honored to have joined the franchise for which Clemente played, and wants to build his own legacy.

"Just because the Pirates traded for me, I don't think I'm going to be in the big leagues no matter what," Tabata said. "I have to play hard every day and show people I deserve to be there."

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