Opening Day 2012: Raul Ibanez Shines in New York Yankees Debut

It was a rough spring training for Raul Ibanez, but it didn't take long for him to prove his worth to the New York Yankees after powering the Bombers to four of their six runs in a losing effort on Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ibanez began to find his stroke late into the spring and at just the right time.

The Yankees designated hitter grounded out but picked up an RBI for the first run of the season, officially putting the Bombers on the comeback trail.

With the Bombers down 4-3 in the third inning, Ibanez made like a DH and crushed a three-run homer off Rays starter James Shields. It gave the Yanks the lead and nearly the game.

Unfortunately for New York, the immortal Mariano Rivera couldn't hold it in the ninth.

Ibanez's homer would have been about as early a game-winning hit as you'll ever see, capping off a four RBI afternoon for one of the newest Yanks to wear the pinstripes.

Ibanez went 1-for-5, and it's no secret he isn't known for being a great hitter. In 2011, Ibanez hit .245 and that's exactly where I expect him to be again this season.

While he won't supply a ton of hits, he'll get the ones that drive in runs.

If Ibanez can hit 20 home runs and knock in 80 runs, he will have nearly doubled the production of the Yanks' 2011 full-time DH, Jorge Posada.

Nevertheless, a good start for Ibanez with still a long season to go. I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing for the next 161 games of 2012.

Kidding, of course.