New York Yankees, Raul Ibanez to discuss hitting coach position

With a huge vacancy currently present in their hitting coach position, the New York Yankees are reportedly planning on talking to former Yankee Raul Ibanez about taking on the role, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York.

Ibanez, 42, split the 2014 season with both the Los Angeles Angels and the AL pennant winning Kansas City Royals – although he wasn’t on the World Series roster. During the regular season, Ibanez batted a meager .167 with just 5 home runs and 26 runs batted in. A far cry from his remarkable 2013 season with Seattle in which he hit .242 with 26 home runs and 65 runs batted in as a 41 year old.

Yankees fans fondly remember Ibanez for his stint with the team in 2012 where he provided a season’s worth of unforgettable memories. Although his numbers don’t reflect a memorable season, Ibanez came up big when it mattered. First it was a 2 home run game against the Oakland Athletics on September 22nd to keep the Yankees ahead in the AL East. Then, in the game that made him famous, Ibanez pinch hit for Alex Rodriguez in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the ALDS and proceeded to hit a game tying home run and then the walk-off in the bottom of the 12th. He also added a game tying home run in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tigers, becoming the first player in postseason history to hit 3 home runs in the 9th inning or later during a single postseason.

If 2014 was any indication, Ibanez career as an active player just may be over. If it is the end of the road, Ibanez would retire with a career .272 batting average with 305 home runs and 1,207 runs batted in between the Mariners, Royals, Phillies, Yankees and Angels. A fine career for one of the most liked people in the game and whatever decision Ibanez ends up making, he will definitely have a job somewhere within the game.