Brian Bannister

Amateur career

Bannister attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was named All-Region and All-City in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The school was the state runner-up in 1997 and 1998, and in his senior year he helped win the state championship by striking out seven of nine batters faced in the title game. He began college as a walk-on second baseman at the University of Southern California, switching to full-time pitcher before his freshman season.

As a freshman he posted a 4.35 ERA in 10 relief appearances. In 2001 he served as closer, recording a 2.80 ERA and five saves in 34 outings. He appeared in the College World Series in 2000 and 2001 alongside future major leaguers Mark Prior and Anthony Reyes. After the 2001 season he played summer ball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

He redshirted in 2002 after arthroscopic elbow surgery. In 2003, his first year as a starter, he went 6–5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 games (14 starts).

Professional career

The New York Mets selected Bannister in the seventh round of the 2003 draft, and he signed for a $95,000 bonus. Assigned to the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones, he went 4–1 with one save and a 2.15 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) and was named a New York–Penn League Postseason All-Star. In 2004 he pitched for the High-A St. Lucie Mets, posting a 5–7 record and 4.24 ERA in 20 starts while earning a Florida State League All-Star selection. He experimented with a two-seam fastball and circle changeup during that season.

After the trade of Scott Kazmir, he was promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where he had a 3–3 record and 4.08 ERA in eight starts. Following the 2004 season he played for the Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, going 2–0 with a 3.77 ERA and developing his cut fastball. In 2005 he began at Double-A Binghamton, compiling a 9–4 record and 2.56 ERA in 18 starts, earning a third consecutive All-Star selection and starting the Double-A All-Star Game.

He was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, where he finished 4–1 with a 3.18 ERA in eight starts. Bannister made the Mets' starting rotation in 2006.

He debuted on April 5 against the Washington Nationals, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowing three earned runs, two hits, and four walks in six innings. His first major league win came on April 11, also against Washington. As a former second baseman, he collected four hits in his first ten at-bats, including three doubles and two RBI.

Post-playing career

During his playing days, Bannister developed an interest in scouting and statistical analysis, including metrics such as FIP and UZR. In January 2015 he joined the Boston Red Sox professional scouting department.

He was promoted to director of pitching analysis and development in September 2015, then to assistant pitching coach in July 2016, and to vice president of pitching development in November 2016. After the 2019 season he was removed from the coaching staff but remained vice president of pitching development until leaving to become director of pitching for the San Francisco Giants in December 2019. In September 2023 he was hired as senior pitching advisor for the Chicago White Sox.

Personal

Bannister is married and has a daughter, Brynn, born in the 2008 offseason, and a son, Atley, born in December 2011. He is a devout Christian.

His father, Floyd Bannister, was a major league All-Star pitcher from 1977 to 1992. His uncle Greg Cochran played in the Yankees' and Athletics' minor league systems, and his brother Brett pitched in the Mariners' system. Brian and Brett are both members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Did You Know?

• He was a walk-on second baseman at USC before switching to full-time pitcher before his freshman season.
• In his MLB debut on April 5, 2006, Bannister took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals.
• He was named AL Rookie of the Month twice in 2007, in June and August.