Andy Ibáñez

Andy Ibáñez Velázquez

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

• Debut May 4, 2021

• Born April 3, 1993 in Havana, Havana Cuba

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Biographical Information

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.

Sources

• INDER
• Baseballdecuba.com
• 2009 World Youth Championship
• 2010 World Junior Championship

Related Sites

• Andy Ibáñez on mlb.com