Raúl Ibáñez

From BR Bullpen

Raúl Javier Ibáñez

Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
School Miami-Dade South Community College
Debut August 1, 1996
Born June 2, 1972 in New York, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Raúl Ibáñez, after a long career in the American League, dominated the 2009 National League in his first half of a season with the Philadelphia Phillies. On May 29, 2009, he led the league in slugging, total bases, and RBI.

Ibáñez was born in New York, NY and began his minor league career at age 20 after playing in the Miami Dade College system. Starting in 1992, he had a lengthy minor league career in the Seattle Mariners organization, playing more games each year in the minors than in the majors until 1999. He was primarily a catcher in the 1993-1995 seasons.

Raúl hit over .300 several times in the minors, including a peak in 1995 with Riverside when he hit .332 with 20 home runs. From 1996 to 2000 he spent at least part of each season at Tacoma.

Ibáñez had his first cup of coffee with the Mariners in 1996, when he appeared in four games. Thereafter, he played in more major league games each season, going from 4 to 11 to 37 to 87 to 92 to 104 to 137 to 157 (in 2003). For the most part his batting average also went up in those years, and after hitting .294 in both 2002 and 2003, he reached a peak of .304 in 2004.

With regard to power, he slugged over .500 in 2002, when he drove home 103 RBI, and again in 2006, when he had 123 RBI.

He became a free agent after the 2000 season, signing with the Kansas City Royals, and then was a free agent again after the 2003 season, returning to the Mariners. After the 2008 season, yet again a free agent, he finally moved to the National League for a contract estimated at $30 million over three years. In joining the Philadelphia Phillies he reunited with former teammate Jamie Moyer and former Mariners GM Pat Gillick, both now with the Phils. While by no means a good defensive outfielder, Ibáñez has always managed to keep out of being typecast as a designated hitter; in Philadelphia, he replaced the equally defensively-challenged Pat Burrell in left field, and was helped by the presence at his side of two excellent defensive players in Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.

Prior to 2009 he was never much of a factor in MVP voting, with his highest place being a 20th place finish in 2008.

An article in mid-May 2009 pointed out that Ibáñez has previously had hot streaks in 2001, 2002 and 2008, but couldn't keep them up for a full season. Been There Done That. He was named American League player of the week once in July 2002, once in September 2006, and once in August 2007, as well as being co-player of the week in April 2008.

He is one of the all-time top sluggers among major leaguers whose last names begin with "I", along with Pete Incaviglia.