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This was on the Oakland A's Clubhouse website.
Banwart was the Wichita State ace in 2007.
A fourth round selection in this year’s draft out of Wichita State, Banwart had a solid professional debut. Many pre-draft pundits had Banwart going in the third round, so he was considered a minor steal when he fell to the A’s near the end of the fourth round. He joined the Oakland A’s organization as a polished collegiate pitcher, so the A’s didn’t hesitate to challenge him by starting him out in a full-season league. He made 12 appearances for Low-A Kane County (six starts and six relief appearances) and had a 2.60 ERA in 45 innings.
Banwart displayed outstanding command in his first pro season. He walked only 10 in those 45 innings and struck out 41. Combining his numbers from Wichita State and Kane County, Banwart had a 152:43 K:BB ratio in 155.2 innings for the entire 2007 season. He was equally impressive in the starting rotation as he was in relief for Kane County, posting a 2.51 ERA as a reliever and a 2.64 ERA as a starter. He walked only four in 30.2 innings as a starter. In his last four starts for Kane County, Banwart allowed only six runs in 23 innings.
Banwart has a solid four-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the high-80s, low-90s and can hit 93 if he is rearing back for something extra. He has an above-average change-up and a slow 12-6 curveball that keeps hitters off-balance. Banwart also has a solid slider. He is aggressive within the strike zone and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters inside, even left-handers.
The Kansas native pitched a number of big games for Wichita State during his collegiate career. He has a reputation for being a bulldog on the mound. He has a starter’s build at 6’3’’, 205 pounds and he maintains his velocity deep into games. Banwart may not have the fastball to be a number one starter in the major leagues, but with his fastball control and array of secondary pitches, he has a chance to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation, innings-eater starter a la Joe Blanton. The A’s may have him start next season in Kane County, but he should get a look in High-A Stockton before the end of the year if he is pitching well
A fourth round selection in this year’s draft out of Wichita State, Banwart had a solid professional debut. Many pre-draft pundits had Banwart going in the third round, so he was considered a minor steal when he fell to the A’s near the end of the fourth round. He joined the Oakland A’s organization as a polished collegiate pitcher, so the A’s didn’t hesitate to challenge him by starting him out in a full-season league. He made 12 appearances for Low-A Kane County (six starts and six relief appearances) and had a 2.60 ERA in 45 innings.
Banwart displayed outstanding command in his first pro season. He walked only 10 in those 45 innings and struck out 41. Combining his numbers from Wichita State and Kane County, Banwart had a 152:43 K:BB ratio in 155.2 innings for the entire 2007 season. He was equally impressive in the starting rotation as he was in relief for Kane County, posting a 2.51 ERA as a reliever and a 2.64 ERA as a starter. He walked only four in 30.2 innings as a starter. In his last four starts for Kane County, Banwart allowed only six runs in 23 innings.
Banwart has a solid four-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the high-80s, low-90s and can hit 93 if he is rearing back for something extra. He has an above-average change-up and a slow 12-6 curveball that keeps hitters off-balance. Banwart also has a solid slider. He is aggressive within the strike zone and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters inside, even left-handers.
The Kansas native pitched a number of big games for Wichita State during his collegiate career. He has a reputation for being a bulldog on the mound. He has a starter’s build at 6’3’’, 205 pounds and he maintains his velocity deep into games. Banwart may not have the fastball to be a number one starter in the major leagues, but with his fastball control and array of secondary pitches, he has a chance to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation, innings-eater starter a la Joe Blanton. The A’s may have him start next season in Kane County, but he should get a look in High-A Stockton before the end of the year if he is pitching well
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