Bandura's MLB Develops journey to the big leagues
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When Scott Bandura made his debut at Oracle Park on Sunday night, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the Giants' 6-4 loss, he officially introduced himself to Major League Baseball.
But as far as Major League Baseball was concerned, the 25-year-old needed no introduction. A Philadelphia native, Bandura boasts an impressive record with MLB Develops, having participated in an expansive list of youth programs and events dating back almost a decade.
Bandura was part of the Phillies Youth Academy, playing with their RBI program in 2017 and 2018. The Phillies defeated the White Sox to win the Junior Division Championship of the 2017 RBI World Series, with Bandura reaching base four times in five plate appearances in the deciding game.
The win was something of a redemption. Three years earlier, Bandura had been the catcher for Philadelphia’s historic Taney Dragons team that made it to the Little League World Series behind trailblazing pitcher and current Women’s Professional Baseball League player Mo’ne Davis. For Bandura, along with six other Phillies RBI players who had lost to Chicago in the 2014 Little League World Series, defeating the White Sox meant something extra.
“Winning a championship was the motivation today,” a 15-year-old Bandura said to MLB.com after the 2017 victory. “That [2014 loss] just added a humongous amount of intensity.”
The Phillies lost the 2018 RBI World Series to the Rays, but Philadelphia had its sights set on another prize. In 2018 and ’19, Bandura played in the Commissioner’s Cup, an annual tournament of MLB Youth Academy teams held during All-Star Week. Philadelphia defeated Kansas City to become champions at Washington in ’18, securing the cup and continuing the city’s winning ways.
As a Minor Leaguer in 2024, Bandura was one of several players who attended MLB at Rickwood: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues. The Giants prospect had already attended Rickwood once before, as a member of the Anderson Monarchs youth baseball team back in 2015, when he met the legendary Henry Aaron.
Now, Bandura finally gets to represent MLB on its biggest stage. A 2023 seventh-round pick out of Princeton University, the outfielder broke out to the tune of a .320 average and .895 OPS across Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento this season. He has split time between all three outfield positions this year, starting 47 games in left field, 44 games in center and 27 games in right. He started at designated hitter in his debut on Sunday.
Whatever future awaits Bandura with the Giants, his MLB résumé is already brimming with accolades – even if he only has one Major League hit to his name.