Josh Banks Stats & Scouting Report

IP	119
ERA	5.672
WHIP	1.555
BB/9	3.176
SO/9	4.16

Full name Joshua Charles Banks
Born 07/18/1982 in Baltimore, MD
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Florida International
Debut 09/11/2007
Drafted in the 2nd round (50th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003 (signed for $650,000).

View Draft Report

The best college prospect in the state, Banks looked like a first-rounder at midseason but was inconsistent in the second half and will drop a round or two. He missed his last two regular-season starts with blister problems that arose when he threw his recently developed splitter too often. Banks is aggressive and goes after hitters with a 90-94 mph fastball, hard slider, splitter and changeup. His slider is his second-best pitch and his changeup has improved. His only real shortcoming is the lack of life on his fastball. He has a solid delivery, throws strikes and maintains his velocity late into games.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Banks has been nothing if not durable. He reached Double-A 26 starts into his pro career and has averaged 163 innings over his four full seasons. His control and pitch efficiency have translated to an eye-popping 4.9-1 K-BB ratio in Double-A and Triple-A, though he also has a 4.63 ERA because he may be around the strike zone too much. Banks pitches primarily with a straight 90-91 mph fastball, and he cuts it to get in on lefthanders. He's also tried to sink it more to alleviate some of his longball problems. Banks' splitter remains his best secondary offering, as his curveball never has developed into anything more than a show pitch. He'll also mix in an occasional changeup. While leveling off in Triple-A the last two years, Banks has tumbled down the organizational pecking order. He's headed back to Syracuse and will be ready if injuries strike the big league rotation.
Banks entered 2006 as one of the system's top pitching prospects after finishing among the innings and strikeout leaders in the Eastern League, and he did the same in the Triple-A International League last season. But his status has taken a hit. While Banks is durable and has fine control, he hasn't fooled upper-level hitters. Banks has a 5.05 ERA in Double-A and Triple-A, and his 35 homers allowed last year were by far the most of any Triple-A pitcher. His 90-91 mph fastball has below-average movement and often catches too much of the plate. He would benefit from pitching more out of the zone, expanding it when he gets ahead. His best pitch is his plus splitter, but his curveball, slider and changeup are all below average. Banks is an intense competitor who's working to enhance the movement on his fastball, either by cutting it or sinking it. The Blue Jays once hoped he could become a No. 3 starter, but at this point he looks more like a back-end starter or a middle reliever.
A strained elbow ligament in 2002 and recurring blisters on his pitching hand may have scared teams off, but the Blue Jays snagged Banks in the second round of the 2003 draft. He has shown improvement in each of his first three pro seasons. Banks is one of the minors' finest control pitchers and went eight straight starts without a walk last year. In the second half, he began to pitch down in the zone more effectively, something he didn't do in his first taste of Double-A in 2004. Banks commands both sides of the plate with a solid-average fastball that sits at 90-91 mph and touches 93. His splitter is a major league out pitch. Banks made strides with his fringy curveball late in the season, gaining the confidence to go to it when behind in the count. Less frequently, he'll go to his slider or changeup. He's still perfecting his pitch sequencing. He's vulnerable to homers, perhaps because he is so resistant to giving up walks. The durable Banks finished among Eastern League leaders in innings, strikeouts and complete games. He's bound for Triple-A and the Jays are excited about his future as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
Banks' first-round aspirations were dashed when he came down with blister problems shortly before the 2003 draft. He also missed time as a Florida International sophomore with a strained elbow ligament, but neither injury has kept him from pitching like a first-round talent since signing for $650,000. A reliever in college before his junior season, Banks projects as a No. 3 or 4 starter. He keeps hitters off balance with a five-pitch repertoire, including a 90-94 mph fastball. His 83-85 mph splitter is an out pitch, and he mixes in an 80-82 mph slider, a curveball and a changeup. After getting promoted to Double-A, Banks initially struggled because he left the ball up in the strike zone too much. He made adjustments and finished his first full season with a four-game win streak. He still has work to do with his fastball command, and his slider can become slurvy at times. Banks will head back to Double-A to start 2005. He's on a path similar to that of David Bush, which could put him in Toronto around midseason.
Banks helped Florida International reach a super-regional in 2001 and missed part of 2002 with a strained ligament in his throwing elbow. He broke out early in 2003, quickly establishing himself as the best player in a weak Florida college draft class. He went in the second round, becoming the highest drafted player in school history (18 rounds ahead of Mike Lowell) after shrugging off a blister to lead the Sun Belt Conference with 114 strikeouts in 105 innings. Primarily a reliever in his first two years of college, Banks added an effective slider to his repertoire last season, becoming a three-pitch pitcher. He sits at 89-93 mph with his fastball and touches 94, and commands it well enough to both sides of the plate to earn a 60 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. He then attacks hitters with a plus splitter and his slider, another above-average pitch at times. Besides just having good stuff, Banks has a plan on the mound and a good feel for the game. Banks' ability to pound the strike zone with quality stuff should allow him to move quickly through the system if he stays healthy. He could earn a spot in high Class A with a strong spring training.

Minor League Top Prospects

Banks slid to the second round when his blister problems made it hard for teams to get a good read on him right before the 2003 draft. He pitched like a first-rounder in the FSL, requiring just 11 dominant starts before the Blue Jays deemed him ready for Double-A. While he struggled after his promotion, FSL hitters couldn't handle Banks' five-pitch repertoire. He exhibited plus command of a 90-93 mph. He also showed the confidence to throw his slider (which showed signs of developing into an out pitch), splitter, curveball and changeup at any point in the count.
Banks projected as a first-rounder in the spring but lasted until the second round after he was inconsistent and missed starts with blister problems leading up to the draft. He was at peak form after signing, staying healthy and turning in only one bad outing. Banks has a good arm action and throws strikes with three pitches. His 92-94 mph fastball explodes out of his hand with good life. His 83-84 mph splitter is a plus pitch, while his slider is a solid average. Even his changeup has its moments. "He came in here and pitched very well," Auburn manager Dennis Holmberg said. "He competes well and has three or four very solid major league pitches."