Anthony Banda #43

Frank Anthony Banda (pronounced BOND-ah)...Instagram: @anthony43banda...he lives in Arizona with his fiancée Stephanie and son...loves tattoos and has full sleeves on both arms, a chest piece and commemorated the 2024 World Series Championship with a full back tattoo that included the World Series trophy all the clubs logos he has played for and the ‘Mister Cartoon’ mask that the Dodger bullpen wore throughout the 2024 World Series run.

2025

Spent entire season with Los Angeles-NL and made second career Opening Day roster...Made first appearance of season on March 18 at Chicago-NL in the MLB World Tour Tokyo Series at the Tokyo Dome in Japan...pitched one perfect inning with one strikeout...After July 1, posted an ERA of 2.17 (29.0 IP, 7 ER) with a .178 opponent batting average in 33 games to finish season...Held left-handed batters to a .153 average (.496 OPS) with two home runs and right-handed batters to a .229 average (.774 OPS) with six home runs...allowed just two hits to right-handed batters in final 38 plate appearances (Aug. 1-end of season)...Set career-highs in games (71), innings pitched (65.0), wins (five) and strikeouts (61)...Led Dodgers in games (71)...ranked 11th in the National League in games, fifth among left-handers...Made seven appearances in the Postseason for Dodgers, going 0-0, 9.53 ERA (5.2 IP, 6 ER) with two walks and three strikeouts...appeared in one NLDS game vs. Philadelphia, two NLCS games vs. Milwaukee and four World Series games vs. Toronto...Designated for release or assignment by Dodgers on Feb. 6, 2026...acquired by Minnesota via trade on Feb. 12, 2026, in exchange for international bonus pool money.

2024

Acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 17 from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash, finishing the season 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA (17 ER/49.2 IP) and two saves along with 50 strikeouts...Won his first game as a Dodger in his debut with the club on May 19...tossed a scoreless top of the tenth inning, striking out one batter...In 30 games with runners in scoring position, held batters to a .182 average...went 11.2 innings without giving up an earned run from May 19-June 15...Appeared in 10 Postseason games, going 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) while holding batters to a .200 average...pitched in all four of the Dodgers World Series wins...Began the season with Triple-A Columbus, posting a 2.12 ERA (4 ER/17 IP) and a 0.94 WHIP in 12 games.

2023

Made Nationals Opening Day roster, the first of his career…Made 10 relief appearances and posted a 6.43 ERA (5ER/7.0IP) before being designated for assignment on April 30...Finished season with Triple-A Rochester as a swingman (10 starts/23 relief appearances)…Held left-handed hitters to a .196 (19-for-97) average in AAA, while right-handed hitters batted .367 (65-for-177) off him.

2022

Spent time with four different organizations (PIT, TOR, SEA, NYY) and pitched in the Majors for the Pirates (23 games), Blue Jays (seven games/one start) and Yankees (two games)...Combined to go 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA (20ER/26.2IP), appearing in a career-high 32 games...Was one of nine players to pitch for three different MLB teams in 2022.

2021

Went 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA (33.2ip/16er) in a career-high 30 big league games between the Mets (five games) and Pirates (25 games)...Began season with Sacramento (Giants’ AAA)...Picked up the win in his season debut on 5/6 at Las Vegas; gave up one run in 4.1 innings of relief...Went 1-1 with an 8.02 ERA (21.1ip/19er) in five starts and 2-1 with a 5.50 ERA (18.0ip/11er) in five relief appearances with Sacramento...Was acquired by New York (NL) on 7/2 and assigned to Triple-A Syracuse... Picked up the win in his first game with Syracuse on 7/7 at Scranton/WB after pitching 3.0 scoreless innings of relief... Was selected by New York (NL) on 7/19 and picked up the win in his debut with the Mets that night at Cincinnati (1.1ip/2r/0er)...Was designated for assignment on 7/31 and claimed off waivers by the Pirates on 8/2...Made debut with Pittsburgh on 8/5 at Cincinnati and tossed a scoreless inning...Made four straight scoreless appearances (3.1ip) before allowing a solo homer to Max Muncy and suffering a blown save on 8/16 at Dodger Stadium...Struck out all three Arizona batters he faced on 8/23 and picked up his lone win with the Pirates...Suffered losses on 8/25 vs. Arizona and 9/23 at Philadelphia...Held left-handed batters to a .189 (7- for-37) average and one extra-base hit (HR by Max Muncy) while pitching with the Pirates. 

2020

Started the season at the Rays’ Alternate Training Site and was recalled Aug. 13...Appeared in just four games with the Rays, allowing nine runs on 10 hits in 7.0 innings before being designated for assignment on Aug. 30...Traded to the Giants in exchange for cash considerations on Aug. 31 and was sent to the Giants’ Alternate Training Site in Sacramento.

2019

Spent most of the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery…began a rehab assignment with Class-A Charlotte on June 23...Went 2-4 with a 5.67 ERA (33.1-IP, 21-ER) in 13 apps (8 starts) between Charlotte, the GCL Rays and Triple-A Durham...Recalled by the Rays on Sep 2 and remained on the active roster through the end of the season… his app on Sep 8 vs. TOR was his first in the majors since May 26, 2018 vs. BAL...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

2018

Made three appearances (one start) over two stints with the Rays (May 12, May 15-26)…was placed on Triple-A Durham's disabled list on June 1 (left elbow strain) and underwent Tommy John surgery on June 14, performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla....On May 15 at KC, made his Rays debut and needed only 52 pitches for his start of 5 IP…allowed an RBI groundout in the 2nd inning and an RBI groundout plus a Whit Merrifield RBI single in the 5th inning…averaged 94.3 mph on his 40 fastballs thrown, according to StatCast...At the time of his second recall, his 4 wins tied for 3rd in the International League and his 44 SO tied for 2nd in the IL...Was the 26th Man for the May 12 doubleheader at BAL but did not pitch...Acquired by the Rays during spring training, in the three-team, seven player swap with the Diamondbacks and Yankees on Feb 20...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 21 prospect in the Rays system following the season. 

2017

Made eight appearances (four starts) over three stints with the Diamondbacks, his first career major league action…was on the active roster for a one-day stint on July 22, and from Aug 4-15 and Sep 9 through the end of the season...Lost his major league debut on July 22 vs. WAS… yielded a solo homer to Bryce Harper in the 1st inning…removed in the 6th after allowing 2 runs on three consecutive 1-out extra-base hits…a fourth run was charged against him after he left the game…his line: L, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR... Recorded his first career win in his second start, Aug 4 at SF over Madison Bumgarner…his only run allowed was a bases-loaded walk in the 4th inning…his 7 SO remain a career high…became the first Diamondbacks lefty to record at least 7 SO and allow 1 ER or fewer in an app of 6 IP or more within his first 2 career games.... Yielded 17 ER at the major league level, including 8 ER in his Aug 15 start vs. HOU before being optioned…his only home run allowed was in the 1st inning of his major league debut.... Pitched out of the bullpen in his third stint, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (6-IP, 1-ER)... Was not on the Diamondbacks roster for the NL Wild Card Game or NLDS... Went 8-7 with a 5.39 ERA (122-IP, 73-ER) in 22 starts for Triple-A Reno…ranked 4th in the Pacific Coast League with a .266 opp avg... Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Diamondbacks system following the season.

2016

Named the organizational Pitcher of the Year after combining to go 10-6 with a 2.88 ERA (48 ER in 150.0 IP) with 152 strikeouts in 26 starts between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno...Selected to play with Team USA in the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Petco Park…also started for the Southern Division at the Southern League All-Star Game...Earned SL Pitcher of the Week honors twice: May 30-June 5 and June 13-19...Named organizational Pitcher of the Month for June, going 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA (6 ER in 25.0 IP) and 27 strikeouts, including 22.0 consecutive scoreless innings from May 28-June 15...Tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in the SL and No. 20 in the Pacific Coast League following the season.

2015

Spent season with High-A Visalia, leading both California League and all Arizona Minor Leaguers in strikeouts (152)…Named California League postseason All-Star.

2014

Spent season in Class-A Midwest League with two organizations…Traded from Milwaukee to Arizona with OF Mitch Haniger on 7/31 for OF Gerardo Parra…3.03 ERA combined with Wisconsin and South Bend, ranked eighth in Midwest League.