Red Hot Rookie Redemption #2 is .....

Jose Tabata.

I have a real sore spot for this guy that I have talked about a numbers of times. My first attempt at prospecting, mainly because he was a Yankee. He ended up going crazy and the Yankees traded him to Pittsburgh.

Glad to see him doing well and, hopefully, he has his head on his shoulders.

My venture in prospecting

I've tried my hands at prospecting twice. The first time was around 1998 or 1999 and I was looking for the hottest newcomer. There was one name that stuck out for me - Erubiel Durazo.

I bought several of rookie cards off eBay thinking, perhaps I can add something good to my collection. Instead, I've ended up bookends or something.

My second attempt at prospecting was more expensive. This time I decided I would go for a Yankees prospect because what better way to start a new player collection is to get all his prospect cards from the beginning. I checked eBay, Naxcom, sportlots, everything to find all the cards I can on this guy.

Jose Tabata. That was guy. Over the last two years he was one of the highest touted prospects for the Yankees. He was projected to be the Yankees centerfielder in a few years, possibly 2010.

Even though he was only in Tampa, scouts couldn't stop talking about him.

Then, he went to Trenton.

Him and Austin Jackson were side-by-side and Jackson outshined Tabata.

Instead, Tabata -- once an untouchable -- nearly had a nervous breakdown. He left the field one night in Trenton and wanted to go home.

The Yankees ended up trading him to Pittsburgh for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.

Now, I stare at my Tabata cards and think, now what?