Banks ready to 'answer the bell' in Phillies' bullpen

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SEATTLE -- Tanner Banks hustled to Philadelphia on Wednesday, taking an early-morning flight from Chicago so he could get to Citizens Bank Park in time to pitch against the Yankees.

He pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Phillies acquired Banks, 32, before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, sending the White Sox infield prospect William Bergolla. In an instant, Banks took a nearly 40-win jump in the standings. It sounds like a dream come true, but Banks had been with the White Sox since they selected him in the 18th round of the 2014 Draft. He pitched in the Minor Leagues for seven years -- eight, if you want to include the lost 2020 pandemic season -- before making Chicago’s 2022 Opening Day roster.

“A lot of emotions,” Banks said Friday afternoon in Seattle. “Having been with an organization for a long time, bittersweet leaving there, but very excited for what the future does hold. … Kind of a flurry of emotions. We’re here, you know? It was a really quick 24 hours of saying goodbye to teammates and staff and all that. I packed my Airbnb and got my wife and family shuttled out.

“Early, early flight to Philly.”

Banks grew up playing against Bryce Harper in national tournaments.

“Same way he is now -- a beast,” Banks said. “Everyone knew who he was then. Everybody knows who he is now.”

Banks played Kyle Schwarber’s Indiana Hoosiers in Surprise, Ariz., in February 2014, while pitching for the University of Utah. Schwarber went 0-for-3 against Banks in a game that went 15 innings.

Banks replaces Gregory Soto (traded to the Orioles) as the third left-hander in the Phillies’ bullpen behind Matt Strahm and José Alvarado. Banks has had more success this season against left-handed hitters (.177 batting average, .474 OPS) than right-handed hitters (.295 batting average, .818 OPS) but the Phillies think they can help him be better against righties with a different pitch mix.

“Super excited to see what they’ve got for me,” Banks said.

Banks was asked what it’s like to suddenly find himself in a pennant race, knowing that the Phillies wanted him because they think he can help them win a World Series.

He paused for a moment.

“It’s very gratifying,” he said. “Everyone comes to the ballpark and puts in a lot of hard work every day. Top to bottom. Sometimes it’s recognized more for some people than others. It’s very gratifying. I’m excited. I’m excited to be here, to learn, to grow, to further my game. But even more so than that, to come into this program and answer the bell whenever it’s rang and to further the narrative of getting to the World Series.”