Anthony Banda Reveals What Dodgers Taught Him That Revitalized Career
Months before Anthony Banda struck a paper towel dispenser out of frustration in the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse, he hit rock bottom.
He contemplated retirement this past winter and took a month off from throwing.
During that break, he volunteered as a coach at his nephew’s high school, which rekindled his passion for the game and allowed him to throw hard once more. By May, he was signed and subsequently traded.
As the Dodgers prepare for the National League Division Series, Banda is a valuable member of the bullpen relying on a pitch he’d never thrown in his life until landing in Los Angeles.
“That,” Banda told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, “is the beauty of baseball.”
Banda joined the Dodgers’ bullpen in May and has posted a 3.08 ERA over 49 and two-thirds innings since then. His fastball continues to be strong, reminiscent of his time as a top prospect with the Arizona Diamondbacks and his significant return for the Tampa Bay Rays. However, brief stints with the Mets, Pirates, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Nationals had taken a toll on him.
Sometimes a change of scenery can do some good and in this case, Banda and his new-found slider have become great.
Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness pointed out Banda’s unconventional slider grip, which involved just three fingers on the ball, and offered his initial suggestion. He advised Banda to use a “spike” grip, pressing the nail of his index finger into the seam to enhance movement and spin. The guidance was straightforward: aim for the center, throw it like a fastball, and go for it.
“It hooked right away,” Banda said.
“It was like a ‘thank you’ moment. I went through, what, 11 organizations? And no one could find that for me. He did it within 24 hours.”
Per Ardaya, Banda has thrown the slider 28.2 percent of the time — hitters have hit just .154 against it, with minimal damage.
Banda’s journey from his nephew’s high school baseball team to the Major League Baseball postseason in one calendar year is nothing short of incredible. His dream of competing for a World Series championship is now closer to coming true than ever before.
“That’s what I’ve always dreamed of,” Banda said. “To see the team that I’m on win the World Series, that’s what we play the game for.
“At the end of it all, when we get there and we do it, you’ll probably see some happy tears or something. I don’t know what I’m going to feel, but at the end of it all, I know that it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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