Don't forget about Andy Ibáñez. He is 'ready to play' wherever Detroit Tigers need him

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers have a crowded infield.

The Tigers signed veteran Gio Urshela to factor in at third base and prospect Colt Keith is expected to be the everyday second baseman, filling the only infield openings, but don't forget about the way Andy Ibáñez finished last season.

Ibáñez is competing for one of the final spots on the roster.

"I'm ready for everything," said Ibáñez, hitting .333 with one home run in three spring training games. "Wherever they want me to play, I'm ready for it. My body is good. My mindset is good. I'm ready to play wherever they want me to play."

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Ibáñez, a former waiver claim from the Texas Rangers, thrived with the Tigers last season. He hit .294 with an .831 OPS across his final 87 games, including a .939 OPS against left-handed pitchers during that stretch, while playing above-average defense at second base.

He fits best at second base.

"He has a huge strength of hitting against left-handed pitching or coming in midway through the game for an important at-bat against a left-handed reliever," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Being able to put him anywhere on the field allows me to chase the best matchup at the most important time, and he's certainly earned the opportunity."

Ibáñez is willing to play anywhere on the field, including right field. He has the most experience at second base and third base, and although he isn't a traditional outfielder, he should be able to stand in the grass and make the routine plays.

In the offseason, Ibáñez — who lives in Miami — worked on his outfield defense with bench coach George Lombard. Lombard, also the outfield instructor, held a minicamp for Ibáñez, Akil Baddoo and Justyn-Henry Malloy in the South Beach area.

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Ibáñez found out he had trouble on balls in play behind him.

It was a lesson learned from Lombard.

"The only issue that I had was struggling with the first step on balls over my head," Ibáñez said. "He noticed some issues I had on my jump. He helped me a lot. We worked a lot on that."

Still, Ibáñez probably won't start games in the outfield.

"I wouldn't expect Andy in the outfield a ton," Hinch said. "I can put him anywhere, and he'll do his best, so we may see him (in the outfield) a little bit this spring, but his primary focus is going to be at third base — like everybody else in camp — and occasionally second base."

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In the meantime, Ibáñez has been working on his infield defense with third base coach Joey Cora. Ibáñez has above-average range but below-average arm strength. The Tigers hired Cora, previously the New York Mets' third base coach, in the offseason.

Cora, also the infield instructor, impressed Ibáñez from the first day of spring training.

"We communicate a lot," Ibáñez said of Cora, who played second base in more than 1,100 games across 11 MLB seasons. "He likes to talk, and he likes to express himself, but also, he likes to listen. It's good having him around."

Ibáñez, a right-handed hitter, could get most of his starts as the second baseman against left-handed pitchers, but only if Keith, a left-handed hitter, struggles against lefties. He could factor in at third base in certain situations, but Urshela is lined up for those plate appearances against lefties.

Ultimately, Ibáñez might get most of his opportunities at the plate as a pinch-hitter against left-handed relievers.

That's when he could wind up in the outfield.

"Wherever they put me, I will do my best and give 100%," Ibáñez said. "I know Colt is going to have an opportunity at second base, so if it's at third base, it's going to be at third base. If it's somewhere else, it'll be somewhere else."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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Next up: Pirates

Matchup: Tigers (2-2) at Pittsburgh (1-3), Grapefruit League exhibition.

First pitch: 1:05 p.m. Wednesday; LECOM Park, Bradenton, Florida.

TV/radio: None.

Probable pitchers: Tigers — LHP Tarik Skubal (7-3, 2.80 ERA in 2023); Pirates — RHP Quinn Priester (3-3, 7.74 ERA in 2023).

Opening Day: At Chicago White Sox; 4:10 p.m. March 28; Bally Sports Detroit.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Andy Ibáñez says he's ready to play, and hit, anywhere