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Cincinnati Reds: Ibandel Isabel sets Florida State League record

By Benjamin Chase

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: A pair of Franklin batting gloves and a Cincinnati Reds batting helmet before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 7, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: A pair of Franklin batting gloves and a Cincinnati Reds batting helmet before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 7, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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When the Cincinnati Reds acquired slugger Ibandel Isabel from the Los Angeles Dodgers in mid-April, they never knew they were getting a record breaker!

After just a week into the minor league season, the Cincinnati Reds traded power bullpen arm Ariel Hernandez to the Dodgers on April 17th, getting back two prospects, one of whom was 1B/OF Ibandel Isabel. On Tuesday, Isabel set a record for the most home runs in a single Florida State League season, when he hit his 35th on the year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers originally signed Isabel at 17 years old out of the Dominican as a huge young man. He had turned 18 before his first pro game, and like many guys that you see signed older than 16 from Latin America, Isabel was especially raw when he began with the Dodgers, though his first year showed his impressive talent, as he hit .327/.398/.500 with 3 home runs over 57 games in the Dominican Summer League.

Standing 6’4″ and built thick, weighing in between 220-240 pounds, Isabel’s raw power was obvious. He spent his next two seasons working on his swing in the Arizona Rookie League, clubbing 8 home runs over 85 combined games.

In 2017, he showed that incredible power, but also just how raw he still was, as Isabel powered out 28 home runs for Rancho Cucamonga. Returning to the level in 2018, Isabel was hoping to work on the ability to control his strikeout rate and improve his walk rate.

Isabel surged in the last week as he neared the record of 34 home runs in the Florida State League, and on Tuesday, he broke that record, powering out his 35th.

While the home runs have been great, the work on his walk rate and strikeout rate has seen mixed results. Isabel has walked at an 8.43% rate this season, which is a slight tick better than 2017’s 8.13% rate, but he’s also seen his strikeout rate also ticked up, from 34.96% to 35.83%.

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Whether there will be a long-term home for Ibandel Isabel in the Cincinnati Reds organization is yet to be seen, but at least for 2018, he left a tremendous legacy!

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