Texas Rangers: Andy Ibáñez is looking to make the jump to the big leagues

Andy Ibanez is on the verge of making his way to the major leagues, and being a factor with the Texas Rangers.

Andy Ibanez is on the cusp of being a major leaguer. Before the stoppage of Spring Training due to the coronavirus pandemic Ibáñez was in a battle with Todd Frazier, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Danny Santana for a roster spot on the Texas Rangers. That all came a halt with the shutdown of Spring Training.

The infielder was a rising star on the Cuban National Team in 2013 when he decided to leave to try his hand in professional baseball.

He left the island via a long legal process in 2014. He eventually signed with the Texas Rangers in 2015 to a minor league.

Debuting Professionally 

In 2016, he debuted with the Hickory Crawdads (A+) and Frisco (AA) hitting .285 with 13 homeruns and drove in 66 runs in 130.

In 2017 he spent the whole year in Frisco but regressed a little hitting .265 and eight homeruns and 29 runs batted in that year.

The following year he was promoted to Round Rock (AAA) came back strong belting 12 longballs, knocking in 55 and slashing .283/.334/.410/.754 in 125 games.

Coming into 2019, he was invited to Spring Training with a chance to make the ball club. “I’m very happy with the opportunity I have been and my receiving an invitation to the camp was a Godsend. I’m confident I can make the club this year,” said Ibáñez to Jorge Ebro of the Herald that year.

Even though he hit .300 he was optioned to (AAA) Nashville where he slugged a career high 20 roundtrippers, knocked in 65 runs and doubled 30 times in 121 games.

A New Hope and a Shutdown 

This year looked like it was finally his year he would make the club and opened up the spring hitting well and even belted a towering home run against the Cubs, February 27.

“This off-season I worked on everything. I worked on my hitting, base stealing, and playing second and third base. I also worked on my timing in the batter’s box.”

But all was put on the back burner when the league was shut down. “I’m a little bothered by the shutdown because I put a damper on my momentum and now I have to start from scratch,  but it’s was God’s will that this happened. Plus this shutdown was necessary for one’s and health is the most important thing.”

Although the process was slowed by the stoppage in play, look for Andy Ibáñez to debut with the Texas Rangers sometime this year.