Tampa Bay Rays: 2019 Top 15 Pitching Prospects

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KANSAS CITY, MO – MAY 15: Anthony Banda #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 15, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

#7: Anthony Banda, LHP, 25

Another pitcher recovering from Tommy John with electric stuff who we won’t see again until 2020.

Height/Weight: 6’2″ / 190

Drafted: | Signed: 10th, 2012 (375th) | $125,000

School: San Jacinto JC

Pitch Grades (Via FanGraphs):

FB: 55/55

SL: 50/50

CB: 40/45

CH: 50/55

FB velocity: 92-95, T-97

Like Poche, Banda was acquired in the Souza Jr. trade. He made his Rays debut in 2018 during a short stint with the big league club. FanGraphs ranked him as the 18th best prospect in the Rays system.

Off-speed: This is what BA had to say after ranking him as the #2 prospect in the D-Backs system heading into the 2018 season prior to being traded to Tampa Bay, “His breaking ball and changeup can both be inconsistent but have a chance to be above-average pitches.”

Delivery: Banda features a pretty aggressive delivery which results in him falling off towards the third base side at times. This could be the main reason he has struggled with his control in the past.

2018 numbers from MLB:

14.2 IP // 3.68 ERA // 10K/3BB // 1.02 WHIP

2018 numbers from AAA:

42 IP // 3.64 ERA // 49K/18BB // 1.45 WHIP

Thoughts: When healthy he possesses back of the rotation stuff and it will be interesting to see how he recovers. He might make a transition to the pen thanks to his electric fastball from the left side.

Footage from 2080 sports during the 2017 season: