​Former Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda underwent season-ending surgery to repair a lat injury, and he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season while with the Minnesota Twins. Banda, who joined the Twins after leaving Los Angeles, previously spent parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Dodgers, where he played crucial roles during their World Series runs. Despite the setback, Banda has expressed optimism about returning for spring training, aiming to be ready when the next season begins.
Notes from the Twins’ camp indicate that Banda’s surgery to address the lat injury has sidelined him for the year. In the clubhouse, Ryan Jeffers appeared prepared to contribute, and there was no specific timetable announced for Mick Abel, who underwent bone shaving; however, he is optimistic about a swift recovery. The Twins shared the update via social media on July 9, 2026.
Banda’s path to the Dodgers began when the Guardians traded him mid-2024. The Dodgers claimed him shortly after his arrival, and he made an immediate impact for the remainder of that season. In 2024, Banda posted a 3.08 ERA across 48 appearances, recording 50 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched. His performance in the playoffs was particularly notable, as he delivered in 10 appearances with a sparkling 1.13 ERA, permitting just one run.
The left-hander returned to action in 2025 and emerged as a bullpen staple for the Dodgers, leading the team with 71 appearances and posting a 3.18 ERA over 65 innings. While he performed admirably in the postseason that year, he wasn’t able to sustain the same level of effectiveness, allowing six runs in 5.2 innings across the postseason. Following the season, the Dodgers moved on from Banda, designating him for assignment before ultimately trading him to the Twins in exchange for international bonus pool money.
With Minnesota, Banda has not matched the peak form he showed in Los Angeles. Through 39 appearances this season, his ERA sits at 4.46, and while his strikeout rate remains solid, his other numbers have regressed since the trade. His lat injury at the end of June culminated in the need for season-ending surgery, a blow to a Twins bullpen that had been relying on his left-handed versatility.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have strengthened their bullpen by promoting other left-handers to pick up the slack after Banda’s departure. Tanner Scott has revitalized his form, delivering a sub-3.00 ERA this season. Alex Vesia has also enjoyed a productive year for Los Angeles, posting a 2.35 ERA across 41 appearances. Jack Dreyer has contributed with a 3.11 ERA over 37 games, providing further depth for a bullpen that has shown resilience in Banda’s absence.
Reflecting on Banda’s Dodgers tenure, he was recognized as a valuable asset during his time with the club, contributing significantly in both regular season and postseason play. Even as the Dodgers moved on, the bullpen depth they cultivated continued to strengthen, helping the team navigate the rigors of a demanding schedule and playoff push.
As the season progresses, the baseball world will be watching Banda’s recovery and the Twins’ approach to replacing his production in the bullpen. For fans and analysts, his setback underscores both the fragility and the depth of a modern baseball bullpen, where a single injury can ripple through a team’s late-inning plan. The broader narrative—how teams adapt to injuries while maintaining competitive performance—remains a central theme in 2026, and Banda’s situation is a reminder of the persistent challenges players face on the path back to full strength.
This recap of Anthony Banda’s season-ending injury and the surrounding context provides a comprehensive look at how his journey has unfolded—from a midseason acquisition with the Guardians and Dodgers, to a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ late-2024 and 2025 campaigns, to his current status with the Twins and his ongoing road to recovery. The update also situates his story within the broader bullpen dynamics of the Dodgers and Twins, illustrating how teams continuously recalibrate their pitching staffs in pursuit of postseason success. The post was originally reported by LA Sports Report and has since been updated to reflect Banda’s current status and the evolving bullpen landscape for both clubs.