Andy Ibáñez
Andy Ibáñez | |
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![]() Ibáñez with the Round Rock Express in 2018 | |
Texas Rangers – No. 77 | |
Infielder | |
Born: Havana, Cuba | April 3, 1993|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 4, 2021, for the Texas Rangers | |
MLB statistics (through 2021 season) | |
Batting average | .277 |
Home runs | 7 |
Runs batted in | 25 |
Teams | |
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Andy Ibáñez Velázquez (born April 3, 1993) is a Cuban professional baseball infielder for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Career[]
Ibáñez played for the Cuba national baseball team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic.[1] He played for Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series. He defected from Cuba on November 1, 2014, to pursue a career in Major League Baseball.[2] He signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers on July 7, 2015.[3]
Texas Rangers[]
Ibáñez made his professional debut in 2016, spending time with both the Hickory Crawdads and Frisco RoughRiders, batting a combined .285 with 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and an .804 OPS in 130 total games between the two clubs.[4][5] In 2017, he returned to Frisco and spent the whole season there, slashing .265/.323/400 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 82 games.[6] He missed six weeks of the season due to a finger injury.[7] Ibáñez spent the 2018 season with the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He posted a batting line of .283/.344/.410/.754 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI in 125 games.[8] Ibáñez played for the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League in the 2018 offseason.[9] Ibáñez received a non-roster invitation to 2019 major league spring training.[10] In 2019, Ibáñez suffered a strained right oblique during spring training,[11] and returned on April 6, when he was assigned to the Nashville Sounds.[12] He spent the 2019 season with Nashville, hitting .300/.371/.497/.868 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI.[13][14] Ibáñez did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
On May 4, 2021, the Rangers selected Ibáñez’s contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[16] Ibáñez made his debut that day as a pinch hitter for David Dahl, and collected his first MLB hit off of Minnesota Twins reliever Taylor Rogers.[17] On June 21, Ibáñez recorded his first career home run, a 3-run shot off of Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas.[18] Over 76 games for Texas in 2021, Ibáñez hit .277/.321/.435/.756 with 7 home runs and 25 RBI.[19]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Cuba World Baseball classic roster[permanent dead link]
- ^ Max Axisa (November 1, 2014). "Second baseman Andy Ibanez leaves Cuba". River Ave Blues. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Associated Press (July 7, 2015). "Andy Ibanez, 22-year-old Cuban leaguer, agrees to deal with Rangers". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Mark Parker. "A new life, a new game: An Interview with Andy Ibanez". MLB.comJune 10, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Chri James (June 27, 2016). "Frisco's Ibanez Adjusting To Double-A Ball". NBC 5 DFW. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "Andy Ibanez Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ RotoWire Staff (June 1, 2017). "Rangers' Andy Ibanez: Smacks two homers for Double-A squad". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "El infielder Andy Ibañez acuerda con las Águilas Cibaeñas en la Liga Invernal Dominicana". CiberCuba. September 27, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "2018-19 Aguilas Cibaenas". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ "Andy Ibanez". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ RotoWire Staff (March 7, 2019). "Rangers' Andy Ibanez: Out indefinitely with oblique". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "Sounds have added INF Andy Ibáñez from extended spring training". twitter. Nashville Sounds. March 7, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Brian Stultz (December 16, 2019). "Huff, Bahr headline Rangers prospects". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ Jamey Newberg (Oct 25, 2019). "Rangers 2019-20 offseason prospect rankings: Part 2". The Athletic. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ Levi Weaver (May 5, 2021). "Andy Ibáñez made his debut, and the Rangers are insisting on being fun again". The Athletic. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Kennedi Landry (May 6, 2021). "Rangers thrilled to have Ibáñez in bigs". MLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Evan Grant (June 21, 2021). "Andy Ibanez's call-up was meant to 'jolt' the stagnant Rangers. He quickly delivered some thunder". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Levi Weaver (October 6, 2021). "Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Position players edition". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andy Ibáñez. |
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Andy Ibáñez on Instagram
- 1993 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Havana
- Major League Baseball players from Cuba
- Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Texas Rangers players
- Toronjeros de Isla de la Juventud players
- Hickory Crawdads players
- Surprise Saguaros players
- Frisco RoughRiders players
- Round Rock Express players
- Águilas Cibaeñas players
- Cuban expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
- Nashville Sounds players
- 2013 World Baseball Classic players