The vibes surrounding the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse are a lot more positive than they have been in recent weeks. After a poor performance throughout most of July, the Tigers have rebounded with a 6-2 record in their last eight games, and are hopeful they can extend that momentum with a strong performance in this week's series against the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels.
A strong start to August is exactly what the Tigers needed to improve their outlook in the American League, making it integral that they keep their foot on the gas pedal. That means everyone on Detroit's roster must do their part in the push towards the 2025 MLB playoffs, including a versatile infielder whose job is potentially on the line this month.
Tigers IF Andy Ibanez Will Most Likely Be Benched by End of August
As great as the Tigers have been for the majority of the 2025 campaign, not everyone has consistently been a positive contributor. In fact, versatile IF Andy Ibanez has been one of Detroit's biggest offenders when it comes to inconsistent performances.
After being a decent supporting cast member in the last two seasons, Ibanez has been frustrating to watch this year. The 32-year-old Cuban vet has struggled to produce more often than not, tallying only three home runs, 17 RBIs, and 16 walks while abysmally slashing .231/.300/.370 in 51 games (108 at-bats). His struggles even saw him spend most of July with Triple-A Toledo.
The Tigers promoted Ibanez back to the Majors at the end of July, and he even showed signs of a turnaround by going 5-of-8 with two doubles, one HR, and a pair of RBIs in three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.
Unfortunately, Ibanez has since come back down to earth. The 5-foot-10 underperformer has since gone 0-of-6 in two games against the Philadelphia Phillies, suggesting that his solid showing against the Diamondbacks was an anomaly. He's now down to a .195 batting average and .591 OPS in his last 18 games (41 ABs), which is far from what any manager wants to see from a supposed MLB player.
If he can't show signs of life, there's a good chance that Ibanez will be riding the Tigers' bench (or a minor-league bus) before August is over. The Sept. 1 roster expansion date will open the door for Detroit to call up some names from the minors who could be motivated to steal Ibanez's spot, with names including Hao-Yu Lee, Max Anderson, and Jace Jung.
With the MLB postseason approaching more with each passing day, the pressure is officially on Ibanez to prove himself before it's too late.