Anthony Banda wasn’t always a star reliever in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.
He was previously a Major League Baseball journeyman, spending time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals.
Though Banda made his MLB debut in 2017, he had only made one Opening Day roster prior to his time with the Dodgers.
In 2023 with the Nationals, Banda spent just 10 games with the team accruing a 6.43 ERA. At Triple-A Columbus, the veteran’s mark ballooned into a 7.58 ERA.
Banda’s struggles throughout the 2023 season provoked the left-hander to consider walking away from baseball.
“At one point I was already getting ready to hang him up,” Banda told Dodger Insider. “(But) it was just that little guy inside was like, ‘Hey, let’s keep going. Keep going.’ That’s a good way to put it — I was just trying to survive.”
Once Banda was traded to the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations, his career took off.
The 2024 season was by far Banda’s best performances as he produced a 3.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts, 18 walks, and two saves.
He was arguably one of the best high-leverage relievers in baseball as he finished the postseason with a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings.
This is a familiar tale within the Dodgers organization. The franchise has earned a reputation for having premier pitching development, helping pitchers become the best version of themselves.
The Dodgers’ reputation is why the defending champions signed the crown jewel of the international signing class, Roki Sasaki.
Banda’s arrival to L.A. sparked a career revival, but it also did much more.
“I feel like I found a home,” Banda said in November. “I think, regardless of where I end up, I’m always going to have a special place of L.A. in my heart as far as because of the fans and the support and love that I’ve gotten from them.
“Without this community, I believe that this organization isn’t where they’re at now. I believe we have the best community, the best fans, the best supporters. You know how much they really, really buy into each event, how much they’re in the seats, they’re filling up the stands. I think it really pushed us forward as an organization, as human beings as well.”
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
