MACK – Hot Bats – Andy Ibanez, Sebastian Toro, Ryan Tayman

Thanks to John From Albany for supplying the stats.

 

PERIOD:  7/25 – 8/3

 

Andy Ibanez/A+ Brooklyn - .600/.635/.800/1.436 – 1-HR, 4-RBI, 12-H

Andy Ibáñez (full name Andy Ibáñez Velázquez) is a Cuban utility player currently in the New York Mets organization. He is a right-handed batter and thrower, born April 3, 1993, in Havana, Cuba (age 33). He stands about 5'10" and weighs around 205 lbs. Pronunciation is roughly “ee-BAHN-yez.”

He defected from Cuba in 2014–2015 and signed with the Texas Rangers.

MLB debut: May 4, 2021, with the Rangers.

Teams: Texas Rangers (2021–2022), Detroit Tigers (2023–2025), Athletics (2026), New York Mets (2026).

Career MLB stats (through early May 2026): .251 batting average, 28 home runs, 133 RBI over roughly 434 games / 1,151 at-bats. Career OPS sits around .684.

He is valued mainly as a versatile defender who can play second base, third base, first base, shortstop (limited innings), and the corner outfield spots. He has solid defensive metrics at second and third.

Notable Seasons –

2021 (Rangers, rookie year): .277/.321/.435 with 7 HR and 25 RBI in 76 games.

2023 (Tigers): Best overall season — .264/.312/.433 with 11 HR and 41 RBI in 114 games.

Later years with Detroit (2024–2025) were more modest (.240-ish range, lower power).

He has generally performed better against left-handed pitching in his career.

Ibáñez signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason but was quickly designated for assignment. The Athletics claimed him in February. He struggled there (2-for-17, .118 average in 11 games) and was DFA’d in late April.

The Mets claimed him off waivers on April 30, 2026.

Ibáñez is a veteran utility depth piece known for positional flexibility rather than consistent offensive production. The Mets picked him up for roster flexibility but he has not stuck on the major-league roster so far in 2026. 

 

Sebastian Toro/DSLO - .348/.444/.957/1.379 – 1-HR, 1-RBI, 6-H

Sebastian Gabriel Toro is a 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop prospect in the New York Mets organization.

He was born on September 24, 2008, in El Tigre, Venezuela. He stands 6'3" and weighs about 200 pounds, throwing right-handed.

The Mets signed him as an international free agent on January 15, 2026, to a minor-league contract with a reported $300,000 signing bonus. He was one of their top signings out of Venezuela that year.

As of the 2026 season, he is assigned to the DSL Mets Orange (Dominican Summer League).

He is a young, toolsy shortstop still at the very beginning of his professional career in rookie/complex-level ball. Detailed public scouting reports are limited at this stage, which is typical for recent international signees in the DSL.

 

Ryan Tayman/A-St. Lucie - .462/.500/.846/1.346 – 1-HR, 4-RBI, 6-H

Ryan Tayman is a 20-year-old catcher in the New York Mets organization, drafted in the 9th round (270th overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

He is listed at 6'2", 210–225 lbs, bats and throws right-handed. Born August 26, 2005, in San Luis Obispo, California, he grew up in nearby Grover Beach and attended Arroyo Grande High School. There he was a three-year letterman (primarily at first base, third base, and catcher). As a senior in 2023 he hit .453 with power and plate discipline but generated little draft buzz and went undrafted, attending the University of California, Berkeley.

2024 (freshman, Cal): Appeared in 21 games (mostly as a backup), hitting .254/.306/.552 with 6 HR in limited action. 

2025 (sophomore, Cal): Played 39 games, hitting .274/.345/.476 with 5 HR. He also starred as a Northwoods League All-Star with the Willmar Stingers (.324/.402/.533 with 5 HR). 

2026 (junior, Cal Poly): Transferred home via the portal after Cal’s conference shift. He had a breakout year as the everyday catcher: .357/.447/.672 with 19 doubles, 1 triple, 18 home runs (tied for the Cal Poly single-season record, including 3 grand slams), 57 RBI, and strong walk/strikeout rates (10.8% BB, 17.5% K) in 63 games. He was named Big West Co-Field Player of the Year, NCBWA third-team All-American, ABCA All-West Region first team, made the Buster Posey Award midseason watch list, and earned postseason honors (including most outstanding player in the Los Angeles Regional). He also set a school record with 546 putouts.

Scouting notes highlight strong power (especially vs. fastballs, with pull-side fly-ball ability after swing adjustments), improved contact and plate discipline, good receiving/blocking, mobility, and game-calling. His arm strength and accuracy are below-average (he threw out ~22% of basestealers in 2026), so he faces questions about long-term defensive value at catcher, though most evaluators believe he can stick there.

The Mets signed him shortly after the draft (July 20). He was assigned to the FCL Mets, then quickly promoted to Single-A St. Lucie Mets (Florida State League).

Tayman is a late-blooming, toolsy college catcher with plus power potential who has already shown he can produce at the pro level early on. He remains a developmental prospect focused on refining his defense and handling secondary pitches. 

He was handling pitches just fine in his first 27 pro plate appearances through Friday. He fanned just twice, while hitting .333.