Locals In MLB: Tanner Banks Steadies Phillies Amidst Bullpen Upheaval
May 27, 2025, 3:14 PM
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 23: Tanner Banks #58 and J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates defeating the Athletics 4-3 at Sutter Health Park on May 23, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The beneficiary of a teammate’s suspension, Tanner Banks is proving his value in relief for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Following an 80-game PED suspension of lefty closer José Alvarado, Banks continues to earn reps in high-leverage situations for the National League’s hottest team.
The former Riverton Silverwolf punched out a batter to earn his first save in a 4-3 win over the Athletics.
Jordan Romano gives us all a heart attack but Tanner Banks comes in and closes it out for his first K of the game to end the game as the Phillies win 4-3 #RingTheBell #Phillies pic.twitter.com/LEP0H78KSO
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) May 24, 2025
Jordan Romano began the inning for Philadelphia, but nearly coughed up a four-run lead. Romano gave up a single and walked a batter before recording the first out.
With one down, Nick Kurtz lifted a three-run homer to center that turned a comfortable win into a scary situation.
One batter later, Banks replaced Romano, getting Lawrence Butler swinging to end the game.
Tanner Banks | Pitcher | SLCC Bruins & Utah Utes
MLB – Philadelphia Phillies
2025 Stats: 23 Games | 0-0 | 24 IP | 3.75 ERA | SV | 28 Ks | 5 BBs | 0.88 WHIP
Last 15 Games: 1-0 | 4.20 ERA | 15 IP | 20 Ks | SV | 1 BB | 0.60 WHIP
The former Riverton hurler has made 18 of his 23 appearances in the seventh inning or later.
Secret Agent Tanner Banks 🕵️♂️#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/W9yK43Ff9s
— Underground Sports Philadelphia (@UndergroundPHI) May 24, 2025
Philadelphia leads the NL East by 1.5 games over the New York Mets. The Phillies are 9-1 in their past ten games, improving to 34-19.
The southpaw played two seasons (2011-12) at Salt Lake Community College after graduating from Riverton High. He finished his collegiate career on the hill with the Utes.
Banks was 4-12 in 29 appearances for the Utes, including 19 starts. He struck out 70 against 31 walks in 113 innings, ending his amateur career with a 5.18 ERA. The Chicago White Sox selected Banks in the 18th round of the 2014 draft. Banks made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2022.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. | OF | Utah Utes
MLB – Minnesota Twins
2025 Stats: 42 games | .121 BA | 7 Hits | HR | 4 RBI | BBs | 20 Ks | BB | 5 SB
Last 15 Games: .172 BA | 5 Hits | HR | 4 RBI | 12 Ks | BB
Keirsey Jr. has seen increased playing time of late, starting eight of Minnesota’s last ten games. Four of his seven hits have come since May 15.
He registered the first walk-off hit of his career on May 11, singling a run home to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6.
Minnesota has jumped to 29-24, sitting five games behind Detroit in the AL Central.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. walks it off in Minnesota! pic.twitter.com/6WobniJN0u
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 11, 2025
The left-handed former Utah outfielder made his MLB debut in September, playing six games with the Twins.
He got off to an inauspicious start, going 1-for-10 in his first four games. Two weeks later, the native of San Diego, CA, launched his first big league home run in his final game of the season.
Keirsey Jr. played 154 games with Utah from 2016 to 2018. After hitting .293 with 30 RBI and 11 stolen bases as a freshman, Keirsey exploded for 33 doubles, seven homers, and 53 RBI over the next two seasons. He hit .327 as a sophomore, then slashed .386/.440/.609 in 50 games as a junior.
MLB scouts took notice with Minnesota selecting Keirsey Jr. in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2018 MLB player draft.
Paxton Schultz | Pitcher | UVU
MLB – Toronto Blue Jays
2025 MLB Stats: 4 Games | 0-0 | 2.53 ERA | 10.2 IP | 13 Ks | 3 BB | 1.13 WHIP
2025 MiLB Stats: 9 Games | 1-3 | 3.4 ERA | 20.2 IP | 22 Ks | 7 BB | 1.16 WHIP
The former Wolverine spent three and a half weeks in Triple-A before being recalled on May 24, 2025. Schultz joined the Blue Jays in Tampa Bay, taking the mound on back-to-back days.
Schultz tossed a perfect inning on Saturday. He followed it up with three innings on Sunday, allowing four unearned runs on three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch.
Toronto is 26-27, third in the AL East. They trail the division-leading Yankees by seven games.
RELATED: Paxton Schultz Makes Record-Setting MLB Debut
🚨 MLB's Luckiest Hit Merchant of 5/25/25 Yandy Diaz turned a near automatic out into a DOUBLE against Paxton Schultz.
With an xBA of just .009, this was the lowest xBA play to result in a hit all day. #MLB #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/KhfrjYe0gV
— NYSportsTalk.sol (@nySportsTalkSOL) May 27, 2025
The 6’3 righty became the third player in UVU history to be called up after Mitch Jones and Kam Mickolio. He made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on April 20, 2025.
Porter Hodge | RHP | Cottonwood Colts
MLB – Chicago Cubs
2025 Stats: 21 Games | 2-1 | 5.12 ERA | 19.1 IP | 6 HLD | 2 SV | 19 Ks | 11 BBs | 1.50 WHIP
Last 15 Games: 2-1 | 6.59 ERA | 13.2 IP | 2 SV | 13 Ks | 8 BBs | 1.54 WHIP
Hodge hit the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain on May 18.
After expressing optimism that the IL stint might be a minimum stay, Cubs manager Craig Counsell pumped the brakes on the reliever’s return on Monday, May 26, telling Marquee Sports Network that Hodge is not progressing with the injury.
The Cubs are 33-21 and lead the NL Central by three games over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Taylor McGregor just said on the broadcast that Porter Hodge is not progressing as expected, and will possibly be on the IL for longer than the minimum stint
— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) May 26, 2025
The right-handed Hodge was a two-time state champ at Cottonwood High. A four-year varsity starter, Hodge finished with a 1.50 ERA in 130.2 innings across 30 games.
The Chicago Cubs selected Hodge out of high school in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB draft. He advanced to Double-A Tennessee in 2023, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 5.13 ERA in 80.2 innings.
Daniel Schneemann | Utility | BYU Cougars
MLB – Cleveland Guardians
2025 Stats: 31 games | .263 BA | 21 Hits | 10 2B | 2 3B | 5 HRs | 12 RBI | 10 BBs | 25 Ks
Last 15 Games: .188 BA | 9 Hits | HR | 2 RBI | 6 BBs | 12 Ks
A hot streak to open May gave way to a rough stretch at the plate over the past 15 games. One of baseball’s most versatile defenders, Schneemann, went 2-for-16 in the past week.
Schneeman has made 32 starts at second base, five at third base, two at shortstop, and 12 starts across all three outfield positions.
Schneeman’s Guardians are five games behind the MLB-leading Detroit Tigers with a 29-24 record.
Daniel Schneeman solo HR!!
Guardians take a 1-0 lead here in the 5th!#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/lCootXdESp
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) May 17, 2025
The former Cougar brought incredible versatility as a rookie, appearing in double-digit games at third base (17), shortstop (32), center field (16), and right field (14). Schneemann added six appearances at second and left for playoff-bound Cleveland.
Despite an underwhelming performance at the plate, first-year manager Stephen Vogt was confident putting Schneemann in the lineup at nearly any position.
The Cleveland Guardians drafted the left-handed-hitting Schneemann in the 33rd round of the 2018 MLB draft after three seasons at BYU. The San Diego native hit .288 with 76 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 21 doubles as a Cougar. His best year came in 2017 when he hit .317 with 13 doubles, two home runs, 38 runs knocked in, and ten stolen bases.
Justin Sterner | Pitcher | BYU Cougars
MLB – Athletics
2025 Stats: 19 Games | 1-0 | 1.78 ERA | 25.1 IP | 29 Ks | 13 BBs | 1.11 WHIP
Last 15 Games: 1-0 | 3.00 ERA | 15 IP | 15 Ks | 7 BBs | 1.13 WHIP
The former Cougar is making a bid for the 2025 All-Star game as his breakout campaign continues.
Sterner has not allowed a run since giving up five earned against the New York Yankees on May 10.
He has held the opposition scoreless in 24 of 25 outings in 2025.
RELATED: Former Cougar Pitching Lights Out For A’s
The A’s have lost nine of their past ten games after a strong start to the season. The Athletics are 23-31 in last place in the AL West.
Through three years in Provo, the 6’1 righthander went 8-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 27 games (17 starts). He went 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 2019, striking out 71 batters in 71 innings.
Sterner made his MLB debut in 2024, throwing four innings in two appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay placed Sterner on waivers in early November, where the Sacramento-bound Athletics claimed him.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
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