Brandon Bantz

Brandon Bantz
Bantz with the Seattle Mariners in 2013
Catcher
Born: (1987-01-07) January 7, 1987 (age 39)
Mansfield, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 8, 2013, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
June 8, 2013, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Batting average.000
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Brandon Bantz (born January 7, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in one Major League Baseball (MLB) game for the Seattle Mariners in 2013. He is a coach for the Utah Talons of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Playing career

Amateur

Bantz attended Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas, where he was teammates with Jordan Walden. He played college baseball for the Dallas Baptist Patriots. In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners selected Bantz in the 30th round with the 893rd overall selection of the 2009 MLB draft. Bantz hit his first-ever walk-off home run with the Everett AquaSox that August.

Bantz was promoted to the major leagues for the only time on June 5, 2013, serving as the backup catcher to Kelly Shoppach due to injuries to Jesús Sucre and Jesús Montero. Bantz played once for the Mariners, starting at catcher in his only game on June 8. He received a standing ovation from the Safeco Field crowd before his first plate appearance, with home plate umpire Laz Díaz telling him to wave to the crowd. At the plate, he faced Andy Pettitte twice, grounding out once and striking out once before Endy Chávez replaced him as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. Behind the plate, Bantz caught Joe Saunders, Danny Farquhar and Óliver Pérez. He allowed stolen bases to Robinson Canó and Jayson Nix.

Bantz was designated for assignment by the Mariners on June 11. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on June 13. He spent the rest of the season with the Double-A Jackson Generals Tacoma, slashing .219/.282/.307 with three home runs and 15 runs batted in (RBIs). One of his home runs was a walk-off for Jackson. The Mariners released Bantz on March 27, 2014.

Later career

On April 1, 2014, Bantz signed as a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. In 22 games for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, he slashed .271/.320/.343 with six RBI. The Nationals released Bantz on May 23.

Bantz signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League on July 7.

On January 19, 2015, Bantz signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization. In 68 games split between the Double-A Jacksonville Suns and Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, he batted a combined .245/.318/.359 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Bantz elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Post-playing career

Following his playing career, Bantz opened a baseball training facility in Denver, Colorado.

Bantz is an assistant coach for the Utah Talons of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

References

  1. ↑ Passmore, Lee (May 23, 2004). "MHS survives to win series over Mansfield". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ Elliott, Bob (August 21, 2012). "Jays prospect a real knockout". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Brandon Bantz Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ "2008 Bourne Braves". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ Nelson, Mark (August 10, 2009). "AQUASOX NOTES: Martinez producing". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ Brandon Bantz's Walk-off Homerun - Meet Your AquaSox: Ep 5. Everett AquaSox. October 30, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2026 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Eaton, Nick (June 5, 2013). "Mariners call up new catcher, Brandon Bantz, as injuries force more roster moves | Seattle Mariners blog". seattlepi.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.
  8. ↑ Miller, Scott (June 9, 2013). "Standing O for Mariners' Brandon Bantz one of weekend's highlights". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners Box Score, June 8, 2013". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mariners Designate Brandon Bantz For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. June 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Minor Moves: Slama, LaRoche, Bantz, Madrigal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Minor Moves: Paddy Matera". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ Brandon Bantz walk-off. Jackson Generals. August 24, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. 1 2 "Brandon Bantz Trades And Transactions". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  15. ↑ Adams, Steve (May 23, 2014). "Minor Moves: Maxwell, Bantz, Swauger". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ Long Island Ducks (July 22, 2014). Kevin Baez and Brandon Bantz Postgame 7-22-14. Retrieved July 10, 2026 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ Lauterbach, Jordan (September 6, 2014). "Ducks' Brandon Bantz having 'whirlwind' season". Newsday. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ David Ring Player Development (November 29, 2022). Podcast #16: Former D1 & MLB Catcher + Current owner of Catchers Central Brandon Bantz. Retrieved July 10, 2026 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "About Us | Our Story - Why Us". Catchers Central. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  20. ↑ Vernon, Brady (June 6, 2026). "2026 AUSL Primer: Utah Talons". Softball America. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "About - Utah Talons". Athletes Unlimited Softball League. Retrieved July 10, 2026.