Tigers' 2024 Wild Card hero gets optioned for failing to execute his lone strength

It doesn't feel like an exaggeration to say that Andy Ibáñez's bases-clearing, go-ahead double off of Astros closer Josh Hader in Game 2 of the 2024 Wild Card was the highlight of his career. It eventually won the game for the Tigers, sending them to their first ALDS since 2014, and felt even more miraculous because Ibáñez was pinch-hitting and had hit just .233 with a .641 OPS in that role during the regular season.

It was a risky call for AJ Hinch to make, but he did it because Ibáñez is a key righty bat in a lefty-heavy Tigers offense. His splits last season were drastic — .161 average and .407 OPS against righties, .292 average and .802 OPS against lefties — but it made Ibáñez easier to bet on against lefty Hader than Zach McKinstry, who he came in to replace. And he did exactly what he was supposed to do.

2025 has been a different story. During the Tigers' series finale against the White Sox on Thursday, he was pinch-hit for Kerry Carpenter with the game tied at two and Gleyber Torres on first base. Ibáñez went down swinging against lefty pitcher Cam Booser.

It was indicative of a bigger problem: Ibáñez just isn't hitting lefties anymore. He has a .238 average and .681 OPS against them this season. And he was just optioned as a result.

Andy Ibáñez failing to hit lefties is turning into a huge problem for the Tigers

The emergence of two other righties — Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler — and the addition of Gleyber Torres has alleviated a lot of concerns about how the Tigers would solve their righty problem, but they still need Ibáñez to step up in moments like Thursday's, when all of those guys are either already in the lineup or have already been subbed in, as Dingler was.

Ibáñez managed to stick around on the Tigers this long in part because of his defensive versatility, but mostly because he's somehow been able to turn into an All-Star-caliber player and pull off Wild Card miracles when he's facing lefties.

This could be an area where the Tigers look to upgrade by the deadline if Ibáñez's time in Triple-A fails to instill confidence. They could also have an internal option in Justyn-Henry Malloy, who was demoted to make room on the roster for Parker Meadows, and has some infield experience in the minors. Either way, the Tigers could be running out of reasons to keep Ibáñez despite any previous heroics, especially if Jahmai Jones can make the most of his promotion.