The left-hander's adjustments earlier this month have completely turned his season around.
When the Minnesota Twins acquired Anthony Banda from the Dodgers in February, the move barely registered as a headline-grabber.
Banda had been designated for assignment by the defending World Series champions and arrived in Minnesota as a veteran left-handed reliever expected to provide bullpen depth. Two months into the season, it looked like even that role might be in jeopardy.
For the first month of the season, that looked like a questionable bet.
Just a month ago, Banda had become a source of frustration for a Minnesota bullpen that was already struggling to find consistency. Through May 8, his ERA sat at 8.27, and control issues had become a major problem, with Banda ranking among the league leaders in pitches thrown into the "waste zone" and already accumulating multiple hit batters and wild pitches.
Over his last seven appearances, Banda has not allowed a run, surrendering just two hits while posting a 0.95 WHIP. His last 15 outings have produced a 2.63 ERA, helping pull his season ERA down to 5.40 and providing much-needed stability for Minnesota's relief corps.
The turnaround appears to coincide with a mechanical adjustment.
Banda abandoned the high leg kick he had used for most of his major league career and shifted to a simplified slide-step beginning May 10. The change wasn't dramatic enough to suddenly transform all of his underlying numbers, but it did coincide with better results and cleaner outings.
Minnesota has implemented a new approach to Banda's use since this adjustment, allowing him to face left-handed hitters more frequently. Since May 10, roughly 55 percent of his pitches have come against lefties, compared to 40 percent before that date. That matters for a pitcher whose slider remains his best weapon.
Banda's raw stuff never completely disappeared. Newsweek's Jon Paul Hoornstra reported that the veteran left-hander still features a fastball averaging more than 94 mph and a slider generating a 41.5 percent whiff rate against left-handed hitters. More recently, Jackson Kruse of Puckett's Pond reported that Banda's fastball velocity has ticked upward, averaging 96 mph during an outing against Pittsburgh on Friday.
The timing of Banda's resurgence could become especially important for Minnesota.
At 27-33 entering June, the Twins remain on the fringe of the American League playoff picture. If they fail to climb back into contention over the next two months, the front office could find itself listening to offers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Relievers with postseason experience tend to attract interest, and Banda has plenty of it. He was part of consecutive World Series championship teams with Los Angeles and posted a 3.14 ERA across two seasons with the Dodgers. During the 2024 postseason, he allowed just one run across eight innings while helping Los Angeles capture a title.
The Twins may not have envisioned Banda becoming a trade asset when the season began. After the way April unfolded, simply becoming a dependable bullpen arm would have qualified as progress.
Now, if his recent form continues, Minnesota could have something more valuable on its hands: a veteran reliever rebuilding his market value at exactly the right time.
