Andy Ibáñez

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Andy Ibáñez Velázquez

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 9", Weight 175-205 lb.

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Biographical Information[edit]

Andy Ibáñez made his debut for the Cuban national team as a teenager, then defected and reached the majors in 2021.

Andy excelled as Cuba's shortstop and leadoff man in the 2009 World Youth Championship, hitting .480/.606/.760 with 12 runs and 7 RBI in 7 first-round games. He was 4th in runs, 6th in OBP and tied for second in walks (7, one behind Evan Powell). He struggled in the Gold Medal game, going 0 for 5 in a 7-6 loss to the USA. He did hit into a 9th-inning error by Francisco Lindor but was stranded.

In the 2010 World Junior Championship, he struggled in round one, going 3 for 23, albeit with 7 walks, a triple, 6 runs and 5 RBI in 7 games, while playing error-free defense. In the Bronze Medal Game, he came up big though, breaking a scoreless tie in the 5th with a 3-run homer off Canada's Tom Robson; Cuba won, 8-2.

Ibáñez made his Cuban Serie Nacional debut in 2011-2012, hitting .278/.309/.383 with 18 doubles for Isla de la Juventud. He fielded .992 and won the Gold Glove at second base. He then made the Cuban national team for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

He defected in 2015 and signed with the Texas Rangers in July of that year. He began his professional career in 2016 and reached the majors with the Rangers in 2021. He played 76 games for Texas as a rookie, batting .277 with 7 homers and 25 RBIs, for an OPS+ of 106. He saw action at first second and third base in addition to DH and also was used 10 times and pinch-hitter. All that made him a very valuable bench player, but he slipped in 2022, batting .218 in 40 games with 1 homer and 9 RBIs, his OPP+ tumbling to 58.

The Rangers let him go after his disappointing sophomore season and he was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers. That turned out to be a good fit, as manager A.J. Hinch, who liked juggling his line-up from day to day, was very fond of the versality that Andy could bring to the table. He played 114 games in 2023, another 99 in 2024, and 91 in 2025, all without having a regular position. Unfortunately, his production declined from year to year. From batting .264 with 11 homers and an OPS+ of 103 the first year, it fell to .241 with 5 homers and an OPS+ of 84 the second, and .239 with 4 homers and 81 the third. He did play in the postseason in both 2024 and 2025, going 2 for 9 the first year, and getting a hit in his only plate appearance, which came in the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, the second year.

He became a free agent following the 2025 season and on January 13, 2026 signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. It was a depth signing however, and when the Dodgers decided they needed to use his roster spot on another player, he was designated for assignment on February 3rd. Three days later, it was The Athletics who claimed him off waivers.

Sources[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

  • David Adler: "A's claim versatile utility man Ibáñez off waivers", mlb.com, February 6, 2026. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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