Anthony Banda Faces Roster Battle as Dodgers Bullpen Reloads for 2026
As spring camp approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down one of their biggest question marks from last season - the bullpen. And among the arms vying to be part of the solution is left-hander Anthony Banda, who enters camp without a guaranteed spot on the Opening Day roster.
Banda, who turned in a solid 2025 campaign, is one of several pitchers in the mix for a bullpen role. He’ll be competing with Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski, Will Klein, and Edgardo Henriquez - a group that includes both lefty depth and young arms looking to make their mark.
There’s still plenty to sort out before decisions are made, but Banda and Dreyer offer intriguing options from the left side - a commodity the Dodgers know they’ll need in a division stacked with dangerous left-handed bats.
Banda’s 2025: A Quietly Productive Year
While Banda may not be a household name, his performance last season was quietly effective. He posted a 3.18 ERA over 65 innings, striking out 61 batters while carving out a role as a reliable middle reliever. His 11 holds marked a career high, a sign that the Dodgers trusted him in leverage spots throughout the year.
He even got a taste of the opener role, starting a regular-season game against the Phillies to neutralize the top of their lefty-heavy lineup. That kind of flexibility is exactly what managers value in today’s bullpen landscape - a guy who can give you a clean inning, open a game, or bridge the gap to the late innings.
Banda also showed up in the postseason, delivering scoreless outings in both the NLDS and NLCS. But the World Series was a different story. He was tagged for six earned runs in just three innings, a rough patch that may still be fresh in the minds of the front office as they evaluate their bullpen options this spring.
Still, it’s worth remembering that Banda was a key contributor during the Dodgers’ 2024 championship run, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames against the Yankees in the Fall Classic. That version of Banda - poised, efficient, and unbothered by the moment - is exactly who the Dodgers hope to see this spring.
Fan Favorite With a Signature Soundtrack
Beyond the stat lines and bullpen battles, Banda brings something else to the table: personality. He’s become a fan favorite at Dodger Stadium, and part of that is thanks to his unforgettable walkout song - Selena’s Tejano classic “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
It’s more than just a catchy tune. For Banda, it’s a nod to his roots.
“I grew up in the Corpus Christi area. Selena’s from there, big part of it, of that culture.
And everybody down there loves Selena,” Banda said. “I just figured a little bit of a hometown heritage, I guess you could say.”
When that song hits the speakers and Banda jogs in from the bullpen, it’s a moment - a connection between player and fans that goes beyond the game. And if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, it won’t just be the Dodgers’ lefty depth taking a hit. The stadium will be missing one of its most beloved bullpen entrances.
The Road Ahead
For Banda, the path to the 2026 roster is simple - prove he can be the guy who helped win a ring in 2024, not the one who stumbled in last year’s World Series. The Dodgers are retooling a bullpen that underperformed in 2025, and there’s opportunity for anyone who steps up.
The competition will be fierce, and the margins razor-thin. But if Banda can recapture his best form, there's every reason to believe he’ll be jogging out of the Dodger Stadium bullpen again - with “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” echoing through the stands and fans singing right along.