PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Chip Hale had his first chance to see left-handed starter Anthony Banda during Spring Training.
The D-backs were playing a lot of their National League West rivals toward the end of spring, so they threw some younger arms while their top starters pitched in Minor League games.
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Banda, who will participate in Sunday's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, was one of the young pitchers who caught Hale's eye.
"His arm, just a really good arm, it just needs to be developed," Hale said. "His stuff's good enough; it's like a lot of young pitchers. Tough kid, really stayed focused for us."
The Futures Game will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com at 4 p.m. MST. Banda is Arizona's lone representative, and he'll be playing for the U.S. team.
The D-backs acquired Banda in 2014 in the deal that sent outfielder Gerardo Parra to the Brewers. Banda made six starts for Class A South Bend after he was dealt.
In 2015, Banda went 8-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) for Class A Advanced Visalia. That campaign went well enough for him to be in a Major League camp for the first time this spring.
Banda opened the season with Double-A Mobile, where he went 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA in 13 starts. He was promoted to Triple-A Reno on June 23. In three starts since then, he is 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA.
"If you look at our list of guys, he's down on it, just because of the guys with experience, and that's what he needs to gain," Hale said. "That's why he was promoted to Triple-A, to be challenged in a tough league in a tough ballpark to pitch in."
Banda is Arizona's No. 14 prospect, as ranked by MLBPipeline.com. He is one of nine pitchers in the organization's top 14 prospects.
"That's one part of our organization's depth that I think we're real happy with," Hale said.