Raúl Ibañez facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Raúl Javier Ibañez (born June 2, 1972) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a left fielder, which is a position in the outfield. He also often played as a designated hitter (DH). Ibañez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 seasons. He spent 11 of those seasons with the Seattle Mariners. He also played for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After retiring, he became a baseball executive.

Ibañez was an All-Star player in 2009. He won the Player of the Week Award five times. Even though he didn't play a full season until he was 30, Ibañez had a great career. He hit for a .272 batting average. He also had 424 doubles, 305 home runs, and 1,207 runs batted in (RBI). He hit at least 20 home runs in eight seasons. He also had at least 90 RBIs in six seasons. In 2004, Ibañez tied an American League record with six hits in one game.

Quick facts for kids

Raúl Ibañez

Ibañez with the New York Yankees

Left fielder

Born: June 2, 1972 (age 53)
New York City, New York, U.S.

Batted: Left

Threw: Right

debut

August 1, 1996, for the Seattle Mariners

Last appearance

September 28, 2014, for the Kansas City Royals

MLB statistics

Batting average

.272

Hits

2,034

Home runs

305

Runs batted in

1,207

Teams

Career highlights and awards

All-Star (2009)

Early Life and College Baseball
Professional Baseball Career (1992–2014)
After Playing Baseball
Personal Life
See also

Early Life and College Baseball

Ibañez's parents moved from Cuba to New York in 1970. His father, Juan Armando, was a chemist in Cuba. In the United States, he worked in a warehouse. Raúl went to Miami Sunset Senior High School. He played baseball there as a catcher. A security guard at the school, Fredi González, helped Ibañez with his catching skills. After high school, he went to Miami-Dade Community College. He was a baseball letterman and an All-Conference player.

Professional Baseball Career (1992–2014)

Drafted and Minor Leagues (1992–1996)

The Seattle Mariners picked Ibañez in the 36th round of the 1992 MLB draft. He played as a catcher and outfielder in the Mariners' minor league system. He started his career with the AZL Mariners in 1992. He hit .308 with 1 home run and 16 RBIs in 33 games.

In 1993, Ibañez played for two Class-A teams. He hit .278 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs. In 1994, he played for the Appleton Foxes again. He hit .312 with 7 home runs and 59 RBIs. He led the team in RBIs and doubles that year.

Ibañez at bat on August 2, 2008, against the Baltimore Orioles

In 1995, Ibañez moved up to the Riverside Pilots. He hit .332 with 20 home runs and 108 RBIs in 95 games. He was second in the league in RBIs. In 1996, he played for the Port City Roosters and the Tacoma Rainiers. He hit .368 in 19 games with the Roosters. With the Rainiers, he hit .284 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.

First Time with the Seattle Mariners (1996–2000)

Ibañez made his first Major League appearance on August 1, 1996. He played against the Milwaukee Brewers. He did not get any hits in his four games that season. In 1997, he started in the minor leagues. He hit .304 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs for the Tacoma Rainiers. He got his first MLB hit, a triple, on August 16. On September 27, he hit his first MLB home run.

In 1998, Ibañez played 37 games in the majors. He hit .255 with 2 home runs. In 1999, he played most of the season with the Mariners. He hit .254 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs. He hit the first grand slam home run in Safeco Field history. In 2000, Ibañez played 92 games with the Mariners. He hit .229 with 2 home runs. He also played in the playoffs that year.

Kansas City Royals (2001–2003)

The Kansas City Royals signed Ibañez as a free agent in 2001. He hit .280 with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 104 games. In 2002, Ibañez played his first full season in the majors. On June 9, he hit a walk-off home run to win a game for the Royals. A walk-off home run is one that ends the game immediately.

Ibañez with the Seattle Mariners

Ibañez hit .294 with 24 home runs and 103 RBIs in 2002. He had 6 triples, which was his career high. He was second on the team in doubles and RBIs. He received an award called the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award. Before the 2003 season, Ibañez signed a one-year contract for $3 million. In 2003, he played 157 games. He hit .294 with 18 home runs and 90 RBIs.

Second Time with the Mariners (2004–2008)

After three seasons, Ibañez returned to the Seattle Mariners in 2004. He had a career-high batting average of .304. He also tied an American League record with six hits in one game. He was one of only two Mariners to have two five-hit games in one season.

In 2005, Ibañez hit .280 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs. He moved to play left field again in 2006. That year was his best with the Mariners. He hit career highs in home runs (33) and RBIs (123). He also had 33 doubles and 5 triples. In 2007, he hit .291 with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs. In 2008, he played all 162 games. He hit .293 with 23 home runs and 110 RBIs. He also had a career-high 43 doubles.

Philadelphia Phillies (2009–2011)

On December 16, 2008, Ibañez signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. On April 9, 2009, he hit his first home run as a Phillie. Ten days later, he hit a walk-off home run to help the Phillies win. He hit his eighth career grand slam on April 27. A grand slam is a home run hit with all bases loaded.

Ibañez with the Phillies in 2011

Ibañez was an All-Star in 2009. He hit .272 with 34 home runs and 93 RBIs. These were career highs in home runs and slugging percentage. He had a very good fielding percentage of .991. In 2010, Ibañez played 155 games. He hit .275 with 16 home runs and 83 RBIs. In 2011, he played 144 games. He hit .245 with 20 home runs and 84 RBIs.

New York Yankees (2012)

On February 20, 2012, Ibañez signed a contract with the New York Yankees. He played more when another player, Brett Gardner, was injured. On September 22, Ibañez hit a game-tying home run in the 13th inning. In the regular season, he played 130 games. He hit .240 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs.

In the 2012 playoffs, Ibañez had some amazing moments. In Game 3 against the Baltimore Orioles, he came into the game as a pinch hitter. He hit two home runs in a row! The first one tied the game in the 9th inning. The second one was a walk-off home run in the 12th inning. This gave the Yankees a 3-2 win. He became the first player to hit two home runs in a playoff game he didn't start. He was also the oldest player to hit a walk-off home run in the playoffs.

Two days later, in Game 5, Ibañez hit a single that broke a scoreless tie. The Yankees won that game and the series. In Game 1 of the next series, he hit another game-tying home run in the 9th inning. This made him the first player to hit three home runs in the 9th inning or later in one postseason. Even though the Yankees lost that series, Ibañez became a favorite player in New York.

Third Time with the Mariners (2013)

On December 22, 2012, Ibañez signed a one-year deal to return to Seattle. He hit .158 in April but improved in May. On July 2, he hit his 20th home run of the season. This made him the oldest player to hit 20 home runs before the All-Star break. On September 21, he hit his 29th home run. This was the 300th home run of his career. He tied Ted Williams for the most home runs in a season by anyone 40 or older. In 2013, Ibañez hit .242 with 29 home runs and 65 RBIs in 124 games.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2014)

On December 27, 2013, Ibañez signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels released him on June 21, 2014. In 57 games with the Angels, he hit .157 with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs.

Second Time with the Royals (2014)

On June 30, 2014, the Kansas City Royals signed Ibañez again. On July 2, he hit his first home run of the season. The team was struggling in July. Ibañez led a meeting with only the players. Many players said this meeting helped turn the team around. The Royals then won many games and made it to the 2014 World Series. They lost to the San Francisco Giants. Ibañez was not on the Royals' main playoff roster.

After Playing Baseball

On February 2, 2016, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Ibañez. He became a special assistant to the President of Baseball Operations. In April 2016, ESPN hired Ibañez as a baseball analyst. He also appeared on ESPN Deportes.

In 2021, Ibañez became a senior vice president for Major League Baseball. He helped oversee umpiring and other on-field issues. In 2024, he returned to the Dodgers. He is now the vice president of baseball development and special projects. Ibañez also served as a coach for the American League team in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.

Personal Life

Ibañez has Spanish family roots through his grandparents. He was offered a chance to play for the Spain national baseball team, but he turned it down.

Ibañez and his wife, Teryvette, have two sons and three daughters.

In 2009, Ibañez found out he was allergic to gluten and dairy. He went on a special diet. He even had meals delivered to him when he was traveling.

In a poll of Major League players, Ibañez was voted the second nicest player.