Anthony Banda

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #20 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: When the Brewers drafted Banda in 2012, he was a projectable lefty with a fringe-average fastball. He's transformed himself into a power pitcher. He was sent to the Rays in Feb. 2018 in the three-team deal that sent Steven Souza Jr. to the D-backs. He made three starts with the Rays in May before going down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Banda is a fast worker with a high-tempo delivery that sometimes can lead to him getting a little out of sync. He attacks hitters with a 93-96 mph four-seam plus fastball with enough giddyup and life to generate swings and misses up in the zone. He relies heavily on the fastball, but his high-80s changeup has potential to be an average pitch as well thanks to solid deception and occasional late sink. Banda will mix in a fringy slurvy 81-84 mph slider primarily against lefthanded hitters. At times in the minors it's shown some bite, but he's rarely shown the confidence in it in the majors. He also has toyed with a slower get-over curveball. Banda is generally around the zone with fringe-average control.
  
  The Future: Banda's surgery will likely sideline him until 2020, but if he can make a full recovery, he has the kind of quality fastball that's a perfect foundation of a mid-rotation starter or a setup man. He'll be working on rehabbing his injury throughout 2019.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #2 prospect in 2018
  Despite some rough results at Triple-A Reno, Banda reached the big leagues in 2017, throwing well in two starts and struggling in two others before finishing the season in the bullpen as a September callup. Scouts say he continued to flash impressive stuff throughout the season but went through stretches where his command backed up. Banda has gradually added velocity to his fastball and now sits 93-94 mph and touches 96. His breaking ball and changeup can both be inconsistent but have a chance to be above-average pitches. Scouts thought Banda left too many pitches over the plate in 2017, though pitching at hitter-friendly Reno didn't help. Some in the organization thought Banda's continued uptick in velocity might have played a part in his inconsistent command and the occasional lack of effectiveness of his secondary pitches. Banda showed flashes of mid-rotation potential during his brief time with Arizona and dominated at times in relief. His future remains as a starter, but if the big league rotation remains crowded, he might have to wait for an opportunity.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #1 prospect in 2017
  Not every trade for prospects works out for the team trading away big league talent, but the Diamondbacks certainly benefited from the deal in which they sent veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra to the Brewers in 2014 in exchange for Banda and outfielder Mitch Haniger. The trade was the D-backs' second attempt to bring Banda into the organization after previously drafting the Texas native in the 33rd round out of high school in 2011. Banda instead played one year at junior college powerhouse San Jacinto, where he went 6-0, 1.95 to help the Gators to a second-place finish at the Division I NJCAA World Series. After his year at San Jacinto, Banda was selected by Milwaukee in the 10th round in 2012 and signed for an over-slot $125,000 bonus. He made it to low Class A with the Brewers by his third season before moving to the D-backs organization. Banda struggled with his command in the early part of his career but started throwing more strikes and increased his velocity not long after joining Arizona. He showed continual improvement in 2015 and 2016. He got a big boost after the 2015 season when he worked with former big league southpaw Mike Gonzalez, a fellow native of the Corpus Christi area and also a one-time San Jacinto pitcher. Shortly after being promoted from Double-A Mobile to Triple-A Reno midway through the 2016 season, Banda was Arizona's lone representative at the Futures Game. By the end of the year, he ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Double-A Southern League and No. 20 in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He led the D-backs system with 152 strikeouts and ranked second with a 2.88 ERA in 150 innings. Banda uses a four-seam fastball with armside run that has continually ticked up during his pro career. His heater sat 86-89 mph in junior college but now sits 92-95 and touches 96 because to added strength and improved mechanics. The jewel of his arsenal is a slow, mid-70s curveball that flashes plus at times, and he complements the breaking ball with an at least average, firm changeup with down movement. He repeats his smooth, easy delivery and effectively sequences his pitches. Banda consistently records high strikeout totals, with a career rate of 8.8 per nine innings. He has walked just 3.2 per nine since joining Arizona. One area for improvement is to better control the running game and other small facets of pitching. Previously cast as a potential No. 5 starter or reliever, Banda is now viewed as a possible mid-rotation arm with one plus pitch and two other average-or-better weapons and above-average control. He will go to big league spring training in 2017 with a chance to break camp on the 25-man roster. More likely he winds up back at Reno for more seasoning. He should make his big league debut at some point in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #15 prospect in 2016
  The Diamondbacks picked up Banda from the Brewers when they traded Gerardo Parra to Milwaukee in July 2014. Arizona had previously drafted Banda out of high school in 2011 but failed to sign him. They key to his improvement at high Class A Visalia in 2015 was improving his command and lowering his walk rate to 2.3 per nine innings. The extreme hitting environments of the California League can be unforgiving to young pitchers, but Banda recorded a 3.32 ERA and struck out 152 batters to rank seventh in the minors. He has a big arm and a smooth, effortless delivery. He gets good movement on his fastball that ranges from 88-95 mph and sits at 91-92. Banda's best pitch is a curveball from 72-78 mph that grades as at least an average offering. His 81-85 mph changeup with down movement is a putaway pitch when it's working. Because he repeats his delivery and effectively sequences his pitches, Banda is a safe bet to eventually reach the big leagues, health permitting. He projects as at least a back-end starter as he heads to Double-A Mobile in 2016.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #17 prospect in 2015
  The Diamondbacks drafted Banda in the 33rd round out of a Texas high school, but he didn't sign, attending San Jacinto (Texas) JC instead. The Brewers signed him for $125,000 in 2012 as a 10throunder, and the Diamondbacks finally got their man in the July 2014 trade of outfielder Gerardo Parra. Banda profiles as a back-end starter, with intriguing potential and improved control. The loose-armed lefty took a big step forward after the Diamondbacks acquired him, sharpening his strike-throwing considerably after the move. Banda has started to fulfill projections, jumping his fastball up to 94 mph with good movement. He's got an easy delivery and does a good job in keeping his front side closed, so there may be more velocity coming down the line. He's got an at-least-average 79-80 mph curveball with good shape and an average 84-87 mph changeup that flashes better. A 2015 trip to high Class A Visalia in the hitter-friendly California League will be a good test.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #27 prospect in 2014
  Banda helped lead San Jacinto (Texas) JC to a runner-up finish at the 2012 Junior College World Series. He struggled in the Rookie-level Arizona League following his selection in the 10th round of that year's draft, but he made strides in 2013 with Rookie-level Helena. Banda throws a fastball in the 89-92 mph range with good movement, an effective changeup and a sharp-breaking curveball that often is his best pitch. He shows good command of his fastball, keeping it down in the zone for the most part and pitching to contact. Banda's curveball was consistent throughout the season, and he showed a good feel for his changeup to keep righthanders honest. Banda did work too high in the strike zone at times and was hurt with home runs. He has a good pitcher's build and physicality. Short of lefthanders in general, the Brewers view him as a potential mid-rotation starter, and he will spend most of the 2014 as a 20-year-old at low Class A Wisconsin.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #20 prospect in 2016
  The Diamondbacks snagged both Banda and outfielder Mitch Haniger when they traded Gerrado Parra to the Brewers in 2014. Both prospects broke through in 2016, with Banda dominating at Double-A Mobile for 13 starts before continuing to shine in the PCL. "He's electric and is maturing at a very rapid pace," Reno manager Phil Nevin said. "On days when he has had his best stuff, he dominated hitters in this league and is someone who has a chance to crack our major league rotation." Banda's fastball has highlighted his jump in 2016, and he now bumps 96 mph and works 93-94 consistently. He owns good secondary offerings that could develop into plus pitches, with a slow curveball that works in the 70s and a firm changeup that can be a weapon against righthanders. A good athlete, Banda has the ability to repeat his smooth delivery and showed improved command this season.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #10 prospect in 2016
  The Diamondbacks acquired both Banda and outfielder Mitch Haniger when they traded Gerardo Parra to the Brewers in July 2014. Banda led the Arizona system with 152 strikeouts, while Haniger led the minors with a .999 OPS and made his big league debut this season. While Banda spent two seasons in Rookie ball and then one at each Class A level, he came to camp this spring firing 96 mph fastballs after he had sat 90 in the past. He made just 13 starts at Mobile prior to a June 26 bump to Triple-A Reno. The athletic, strong-bodied Banda commands his 92-94 mph fastball down in the zone to set up a pair of quality secondary pitches. He throws a mid-70s, high-rotation breaking ball that often plays as plus and works as his strikeout pitch. He also throws an above-average, sinking changeup. A three-pitch lefty who throws strikes, he could be a No. 3 starter.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #88 prospect in 2017

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Not every trade for prospects works out for the team trading away big league talent, but the Diamondbacks certainly benefited from the deal in which they sent veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra to the Brewers in 2014 in exchange for Banda and outfielder Mitch Haniger. The trade was the D-backs' second attempt to bring Banda into the organization after previously drafting the Texas native in the 33rd round out of high school in 2011. Banda instead played one year at junior college powerhouse San Jacinto (Texas), where he went 6-0, 1.95 to help the Gators to a second-place finish at the Division I NJCAA World Series. After his year at San Jacinto, Banda was selected by Milwaukee in the 10th round in 2012 and signed for an over-slot $125,000 bonus. He made it to low Class A with the Brewers by his third season before moving to the D-backs organization. Banda struggled with his command in the early part of his career but started throwing more strikes and increased his velocity not long after joining Arizona. He showed continual improvement in 2015 and 2016. He got a big boost after the 2015 season when he worked with former big league southpaw Mike Gonzalez, a fellow native of the Corpus Christi area and also a one-time San Jac pitcher. Shortly after being promoted from Double-A Mobile to Triple-A Reno midway through the 2016 season, Banda was Arizona's lone representative at the Futures Game. By the end of the year, he ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Double-A Southern League and No. 20 in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He led the D-backs system with 152 strikeouts and ranked second with a 2.88 ERA in 150 innings. Scouting Report: Banda uses a four-seam fastball with armside run that has continually ticked up during his pro career. His heater sat 86-89 mph in junior college but now sits 92-95 and touches 96 because to added strength and improved mechanics. The jewel of his arsenal is a slow, mid-70s curveball that flashes plus at times, and he complements the breaking ball with an at least average, firm changeup with down movement. He repeats his smooth, easy delivery and effectively sequences his pitches. Banda consistently records high strikeout totals, with a career rate of 8.8 per nine innings. He has walked just 3.2 per nine since joining Arizona. One area for improvement is to better control the running game and other small facets of pitching.
  
  The Future: Previously cast as a potential No. 5 starter or reliever, Banda is now viewed as a possible mid-rotation arm with one plus pitch and two other average-or-better weapons and above-average control. He will go to big league spring training in 2017 with a chance to break camp on the 25-man roster. More likely he winds up back at Reno for more seasoning. He should make his big league debut at some point in 2017.