| Anthony Banda | |
|---|---|
 Banda at the 2024 championship parade | |
| Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 43 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1993-08-10)August 10, 1993 (age 32) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 22, 2017, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 15–9 |
| Earned run average | 4.44 |
| Strikeouts | 220 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Frank Anthony Banda (born August 10, 1993) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theLos Angeles Dodgers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball forSan Jacinto College. TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Banda in the tenth round of the2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with theArizona Diamondbacks in 2017 and has also played for theTampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,Toronto Blue Jays,New York Yankees, andWashington Nationals.
Frank Anthony Banda was born on August 10, 1993, inCorpus Christi, Texas, to parents Frank and Danette Banda.[1] He has four siblings.[2]
Banda attendedSinton High School inSinton, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team.[3] TheArizona Diamondbacks selected Banda in the 33rd round of the2011 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He did not sign and attendedSan Jacinto College, where he had a 7–1record with a 2.01earned run average (ERA) and 73strikeouts, earningNational Junior College Athletic Association third-team all-American honors.[5]
TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Banda in the tenth round of the2012 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He signed and made his professional debut that year with theArizona League Brewers where he was 2–3 with a 5.83 ERA in41+2⁄3innings pitched.[4]
In 2013, he played for theHelena Brewers where he pitched to a 3–4 record and 4.45 ERA in 14starts.[4] Banda began 2014 with theWisconsin Timber Rattlers,[7] making 20 appearances (14 starts) with a 6–6 record and 3.66 ERA.[4]
On July 31, 2014, the Brewers traded Banda andMitch Haniger to theArizona Diamondbacks in exchange forGerardo Parra.[8] Arizona assigned him to theSouth Bend Silver Hawks, where he finished the season, making six starts with a 1.54 ERA.[4]
Banda spent 2015 with theVisalia Rawhide where he was 8–8 with a 3.32 ERA in 28 games (27 starts), with oneshutout.[4] Banda led the league with 152 strikeouts and was second in starts and third with151+2⁄3 innings.[9] He was aMiLB.com Organization All Star, and a post-season All Star.[10] He started 2016 with theMobile BayBears and was promoted to theReno Aces in June.[11] He was also selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game that July.[12] In 26 starts between Mobile and Reno he pitched to a 10–6 record and 2.88 ERA, with 152 strikeouts in 150 innings.[4] He was a mid-seasonSouthern League All Star and a MILB.COM Organization All Star[10] The Diamondbacks added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season[13] and he started the 2017 season pitching for Reno.[14][15]
Banda made his major league debut on July 22, 2017, taking the loss in a game against theWashington Nationals. He struck out the first batter he faced,Brian Goodwin and allowed four runs on seven hits in5+2⁄3 innings, while striking out five in the game.[16] He was optioned back to Reno the next day[17] but was recalled twice more and finished the season with a 2–3 record and 5.96 ERA in24+2⁄3 innings.[18] In 22 starts (10th-most in the league) for Reno he was 8–7 with 12 wild pitches (2nd), 116 strikeouts (5th), 51 walks (7th) and a 5.39 ERA.[4][19]
On February 18, 2018, the Diamondbacks traded Banda to theTampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade, in which theNew York Yankees acquiredBrandon Drury from Arizona, the Diamondbacks acquiredSteven Souza from the Rays andTaylor Widener from the Yankees, and the Rays acquiredNick Solak from the Yankees and twoplayers to be named later (Sam McWilliams andColin Poche) from the Diamondbacks.[20] Banda began the 2018 season with theDurham Bulls[21] and made his Rays debut on May 15, against theKansas City Royals.[22] On June 4, he was diagnosed a tornulnar collateral ligament which requiredTommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2018 season and half of the following season.[23] He pitched14+2⁄3 innings for the Rays, allowing six earned runs.[22]
In 2019, he made 13 rehab appearances in the minor leagues, with a 2–4 record and a 5.67 ERA.[4] Banda returned to the Rays with a relief appearance on September 8[24] and pitched a total of four innings for them over three games, allowing three runs.[25]
Banda only made four appearances in theCOVID-19 shortened 2020 season. He pitched seven innings, with eight earned runs allowed[26] and was designated for assignment on August 30.[27]
On August 31, 2020, Banda was traded from the Rays to theSan Francisco Giants for cash considerations.[28] On November 1, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency, but quickly re-signed with the Giants on a new minor league contract.[29][30] Banda was assigned to the Triple-ASacramento River Cats to begin the 2021 season, but struggled to a 3–2 record and 6.86 ERA in 10 appearances.[4]
On July 2, 2021, Banda was traded to theNew York Mets in exchange forWill Toffey.[31] He was assigned to the Triple-ASyracuse Mets,[32] where he allowed six earned runs in10+1⁄3 innings.[4] On July 19, Banda was selected to the active roster.[33] In five appearances for the Mets, he pitched to a 7.36 ERA with seven strikeouts.[34] On July 31, the Mets designated Banda for assignment.[35]
On August 2, 2021, Banda was claimed off of waivers by thePittsburgh Pirates.[36] He made 25 appearances for Pittsburgh down the stretch, recording a 1–2 record and 3.42 ERA with 25 strikeouts in26+1⁄3 innings pitched.[34]
In 2022, Banda pitched in 23 games for the Pirates, but struggled to a 6.41 ERA with 22 strikeouts in19+2⁄3 innings of work.[34] On June 27, he was designated for assignment.[37]
On July 2, 2022, Banda was traded to theToronto Blue Jays for cash considerations.[38] He pitched in seven games for the Blue Jays, allowing three runs in6+1⁄3 innings.[34] He was designated for assignment on August 2 and became a free agent August 6 after rejecting an outright assignment to the minors.[39]
On August 9, 2022, Banda signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners[40] and pitched four innings for theTacoma Rainiers, allowing one earned run.[4] On August 25 Banda opted out of his contract with the Mariners and became a free agent.
On August 28, 2022, Banda signed a one-year, major league contract withNew York Yankees.[41] He was designated for assignment on September 3, after allowing three runs on two hits and five walks in0+2⁄3 innings across two appearances.[34][42] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on September 5,[43] where he appeared in six games, allowing five earned runs in7+1⁄3 innings.[4] On October 24, Banda elected free agency.[44]
On January 4, 2023, Banda signed a minor league deal with theWashington Nationals.[45] On March 30, Banda had his contract selected after making the Opening Day roster[46] and he made 10 appearances for Washington, registering a 6.43 ERA with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched.[34] On April 30, he was designated for assignment[47] and he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-ARochester Red Wings on May 4.[48] In 33 games for the Red Wings, he pitched65+1⁄3 innings, made 10 starts and allowed 55 earned runs for a 9.23 ERA.[4] On October 13, Banda elected free agency.[49]
On January 30, 2024, Banda signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Guardians.[50] In 12 games for the Triple-AColumbus Clippers, he recorded a 2.12 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 17 innings pitched.[4]
On May 17, 2024, the Guardians traded Banda to theLos Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.[51] He was added to the major league roster on May 19,[52] and pitched in an extra-innings game against theCincinnati Reds that same day.[53] Banda was placed on the injured list on September 10, fracturing his left hand by hitting a solid object after a poor performance the previous day.[54] He rejoined the roster on September 26.[55] In 48 games for the Dodgers in 2024, he was 3–2 with a 3.08 ERA in49+2⁄3 innings.[34] Banda pitched eight innings over 10 games for the Dodgers in the postseason, allowing only one run on six hits as the Dodgers won the2024 World Series.[34]
In the 2025 season, Banda pitched in a team high 71 games, and finished with a 5–1 record and 3.18 ERA in 65 innings.[34] In the postseason, he pitched one scoreless inning in the2025 NLDS,1+2⁄3 scoreless innings in the2025 NLCS and allowed six runs on six hits (including two home runs) and one walk in three innings of the2025 World Series. The Dodgers won the series in seven games for the championship.[34]
Banda has a son who was born in December 2018.[56]On November 2, 2022, Anthony Banda's brother, Mathew Banda, a 27-year-oldNavy veteran, and 37-year-old Betsy Mandujano were killed by an intoxicated driver driving the wrong way on theCorpus Christi Harbor Bridge.[57]