Frank Anthony Banda (born August 10, 1993) is an American
professional baseball pitcher in the
Washington Nationals organization. He played college baseball for
San Jacinto College. The
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
selected Banda in the tenth round of the
2012 MLB draft
The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto R ...
. He made his MLB debut with the
Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 and has also played for the
Tampa Bay Rays,
New York Mets,
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
,
Toronto Blue Jays and
New York Yankees.
Amateur career
Banda attended
Sinton High School
Sinton High School is a public high school located in Sinton, Texas, United States, and classified as a 4A school by the UIL. It is part of the Sinton Independent School District located in San Patricio County.
As the sole comprehensive high ...
in
Sinton, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team. The
Arizona Diamondbacks selected Banda in the 33rd round of the
2011 Major League Baseball draft
The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the first ...
. He did not sign and attended
San Jacinto College, where he pitched to a 1.95
earned run average (ERA) in
innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one innin ...
.
Professional career
Milwaukee Brewers
The
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
selected Banda in the tenth round of the
2012 Major League Baseball draft
The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto R ...
out of
San Jacinto College. He signed and made his professional debut that year with the
AZL Brewers
The Arizona Complex League Brewers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Arizona Complex League (ACL) and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The are located in Phoenix, Arizona, and play their home games at American Family Field ...
where he was 2–3 with a 5.83 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched.
In 2013, he played for the
Helena Brewers where he pitched to a 3–4 record and 4.45 ERA in 14 starts. Banda began 2014 with the
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On July 31, 2014, the Brewers traded Banda and
Mitch Haniger
Mitchell Evan Haniger (born December 23, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.
A coll ...
to the
Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for
Gerardo Parra
Gerardo Enrique Parra (born May 6, 1987) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants ...
. Arizona assigned him to the
South Bend Silver Hawks
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
, where he finished the season. In 26 combined games (20 starts) between Wisconsin and South Bend, he compiled a 9–6 record with a 3.03 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
He spent 2015 with the
Visalia Rawhide where he was 8–8 with a 3.32 ERA in 28 games (27 starts), with one shutout. Banda led the league with 152 strikeouts and 3 balks, and was 2nd in starts, 3rd with 151.2 innings, 8th with 12 wild pitches, and 10th in wins. He was an MILB.COM Organization All Star, and a post-season All Star.
Banda began 2016 with the
Mobile BayBears and was promoted to the
Reno Aces in June. He played in the
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League ...
that July. In 26 starts between Mobile and Reno he pitched to a 10–6 record and 2.88 ERA, with 152 strikeouts in 150 innings. He was a mid-season All Star, an MILB.COM Organization All Star, and a Futures Game selection.
The Diamondbacks added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.
Banda started the 2017 season pitching for Reno.
Banda made his major league debut on July 22, 2017, taking the loss in a game against the
Washington Nationals. Banda was effective for the first two times through the division-leading Nationals' batting order, giving up his only run on a titanic solo shot by
Bryce Harper that reached the
Chase Field concourse but gave up three more runs and was pulled in the sixth inning. He was optioned back to Reno the next day. He was recalled twice more and finished the season with a 2–3 record and 5.96 ERA in innings. 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.
Tampa Bay Rays
On February 18, 2018, the Diamondbacks traded Banda to the
Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade, in which the
New York Yankees acquired
Brandon Drury
Brandon Shane Drury (born August 21, 1992) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue ...
from Arizona, the Diamondbacks acquired
Steven Souza from the Rays and
Taylor Widener from the Yankees, and the Rays acquired
Nick Solak
Nicholas Blake Solak (born January 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves. ...
from the Yankees and two
players to be named later
In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...
(
Sam McWilliams
Samuel Rutherford McWilliams (born September 4, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He spent time on the 40-man roster of the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, and was a Rule 5 pick by the Kan ...
and
Colin Poche
Colin Michael Poche ( ; born January 17, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Amateur career
Poche attended Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. As a senior in 2012, he w ...
) from the Diamondbacks. Banda began the 2018 season with the
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in ...
. He made his Rays debut on May 15, 2018, against the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
. On June 4, he was diagnosed a torn
ulnar collateral ligament with requiring
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
, effectively ending his 2018 season and half of the following season.
In 2019 pitching for three minor league teams he was 2–4 with a 5.67 ERA.
Pitching for the Rays, Banda was 0–0 with a 6.75 ERA.
Banda was designated for assignment on August 30, 2020.
San Francisco Giants
On August 31, 2020, Banda was traded from the Rays to the
San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. On November 1, 2020, Banda 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. Banda was assigned to the Triple-A
Sacramento River Cats to begin the 2021 season, but struggled to a 3–2 record and 6.86 ERA in 10 appearances.
New York Mets
On July 2, 2021, Banda was traded to the
New York Mets in exchange for
Will Toffey. He was assigned to the Triple-A
Syracuse Mets
The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which open ...
. On July 19, Banda was selected to the active roster. In five appearances for the Mets, Banda pitched to a 7.36 ERA with seven strikeouts. On July 31, the Mets designated Banda for assignment.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On August 2, 2021, Banda was claimed off of waivers by the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. He was later optioned to the Triple-A
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory Field, which open ...
. He made 25 appearances for Pittsburgh down the stretch, recording a 1-2 record and 3.42 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched.
In 2022, Banda pitched in 23 games for the Pirates, but struggled to a 6.41 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work. On June 27, 2022, Banda was designated for assignment after
Miguel Yajure was recalled from Indianapolis.
Toronto Blue Jays
On July 2, 2022, Banda was traded to the
Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. He was designated for assignment on August 2. He was released on August 6.
Seattle Mariners
On August 9, 2022, Banda signed a minor league contract with the
Seattle Mariners. Banda opted out of his contract with the Mariners on August 25.
New York Yankees
Banda signed a major league contract with the
New York Yankees on August 28, 2022. He was designated for assignment on September 3. On October 24, Banda elected free agency.
Washington Nationals
On January 4, 2023, Banda signed a minor league deal with the
Washington Nationals.
Personal life
Banda has a son who was born in December 2018.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banda, Anthony
Living people
1993 births
Sportspeople from Corpus Christi, Texas
Baseball players from Texas
Major League Baseball pitchers
Arizona Diamondbacks players
Tampa Bay Rays players
New York Mets players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Toronto Blue Jays players
New York Yankees players
San Jacinto North Gators baseball players
Arizona League Brewers players
Helena Brewers players
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players
South Bend Silver Hawks players
Visalia Rawhide players
Mobile BayBears players
Reno Aces players
Durham Bulls players
Sacramento River Cats players
Syracuse Mets players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players