Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospects For 2017
3. Andy Ibanez, 2B
Birthdate: 4/3/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low A, AA
Stats in 2016: .285/.355/.449, 13 HR, 15 SB
Ibanez turned plenty of heads as the lone teenager on Cuba’s 2013 World Baseball Classic team, and he looked nothing like the youngest player on the team through his performance.
The Rangers signed Ibanez after defecting in July of 2015, and he made his debut in 2016, starting out directly in full season ball without skipping a beat. The Rangers jumped him over high-A to AA, and though he saw a bit more challenge, he still showed tremendously for a guy in his first pro season.
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Ibanez’s best tool is his bat. He has the ability to get the bat to the ball and barrel up nearly any pitch in the strike zone. His strike zone recognition is tremendous and showed well, even with the move up to AA.
While his power and speed are not his fortes, his hitting ability allows the power to play up, and his high baseball IQ will allow him to steal more bases than his raw speed would likely suggest.
Ibanez has been compared favorably to Howie Kendrick, and defensively, he has a similar profile, likely not an elite defender, but capably handling second base and providing plenty of value with his bat.
Ibanez will likely jump to AAA in 2017, and with Odor in front of him in Texas, he may see a position switch to left field in his future, but the bat will push him forward quickly.
Next: #2