Locals In MLB: Former Ute Tanner Banks Enters First Playoff Chase After Trade To Philadelphia

SALT LAKE CITY – After spending 2.5 seasons with the woeful Chicago White Sox, Tanner Banks is headed to the league-leading Philadelphia Phillies. The National League East division-leading Phillies bolstered their bullpen with the former Utah and SLCC pitcher.

After an offseason trade sent Rucker from the Chicago Cubs to Philadelphia, right arterial vasospasms kept the righty on the shelf into June.

RELATED: Trade Lands Former Cougar Andrew Pintar Opportunity With Marlins

The Phillies added another arm to their bullpen before the MLB trade deadline and acquired left-handed reliever Tanner Banks from the White Sox. They also sent Gregory Soto to the Orioles in a separate trade. https://t.co/ayku5PhBXh

— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) July 30, 2024

Banks heads to Philadephia with a 3.07 ERA and five earned runs allowed in his past 15 appearances (14 innings).

The Phillies (65-43) hold a six-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves.

BYU Cougars (2)

Michael Rucker | Pitcher

MLB (Rehab) – Philadelphia Phillies

An extended rehab stint is over for former BYU pitcher Michael Rucker after the Phillies activated him on July 26. He did not appear for Philadelphia before being sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, July 29.

The righty worked around one hit in his most recent appearance.

Updated Philadelphia Phillies roster/depth chart:

•RP Carlos Estevez (acquired from LAA) added to roster.
•RP Michael Rucker optioned.

Roster/Depth Chart: https://t.co/g22RjydFwm

Closer Depth Chart: https://t.co/S1cy6N7u7b#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/aIkvGdGK8u

— Jason R.R. Martinez (FanGraphs/RosterResource) (@JasonRRMartinez) July 29, 2024

Rucker played two years in Provo, finishing with a 16-2 record in 29 appearances (22 starts). He went 11-1 in 102.1 innings with a 2.73 ERA as a junior. The Chicago Cubs selected Rucker in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB draft.

2024 MiLB Stats: 13 Games | 1-0 | 3.00 ERA | 15 IP | 2 HLD | 21 Ks | 3 BBs | 1.33 WHIP

Career Stats: 3 Yrs | 96 appearances | 5-2 | 4.91 ERA | 123.1 IP | 120 Ks | 50 BB | 1.39 WHIP

Daniel Schneemann | Utility

MLB – Cleveland Guardians

MLB pitchers have figured out the versatile rookie in recent weeks. Schneemann had nine hits in 55 July at-bats but only three hits since July 12.

Cleveland has raced to the best record in the American League at 66-42. The Guardians lead the American League Central by six games over the Kansas City Royals.

RELATED: Former BYU Baseball Standout Doubles In MLB Debut

The Cleveland Guardians drafted the lefthanded-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, and 38 runs knocked and ten stolen bases.

Last 7 Games: .105 BA | 2 Hits | RBI | 6 Ks

2024 MLB Stats: 41 games | .212 | 24 Hits | 7 2B | 2 3B | 4 HR | 16 RBI | SB |  14 BBs | 39 Ks

2024 MiLB Stats: 53 games | .294 | 53 Hits | 15 2B | 3B | 10 HR | 39 RBI | 41 BBs | 52 Ks

Utah Prep Athletes (2)

Drew Thorpe | Pitcher | Desert Hills HS

MLB – Chicago White Sox

Thorpe has been roughed up in his past two starts. After not making it through an inning against Seattle on July 26, Thorpe surrendered seven hits and six earned runs in a July 31 start against the Kansas City Royals. Four home runs bit Thorpe as he allowed 14 earned combined between the two starts.

Thorpe had allowed three earned and nine hits in 18.1 innings in three starts before facing Seattle.

Drew Thorpe's start from yesterday against Kansas City:
• 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 0 K, 2 BB, 10 hard-hit balls
• Righties hit him better than lefties, gave up the homer to Fermin#WhiteSox #Southside #MLB #CWSvsKC pic.twitter.com/FPBguUIRIo

— Sweet Home Chicago Sports (@SHChicagoSports) August 1, 2024

The White Sox are 27-84 and are threatening to finish with the worst record in MLB history. The 1899 Cleveland Spiders finished with the worst win percentage in league history with a 20–134 (.130 percentage) finish.

RELATED: Thorpe Has Been Outstanding In Chicago White Sox Rotation

The former Desert Hills star began the season with Double-A Birmingham. He amassed a sterling 7-1 record with a Southern League-best 1.35 ERA in 60 innings. The White Sox traded for Thorpe in March 2024. 

The New York Yankees selected Thorpe in the second round of the 2023 MLB draft. He was one of five players sent to the San Diego Padres in return for star outfielder Juan Soto. Thorpe split the 2023 season pitching between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset for the Yankees.

Last 7 Games: 0-1 | 3.24 ERA | 8.1 IP | 4 Hits | 9 Ks | 3 BBs | 0.86 WHIP

2024 MLB Stats: 9 Starts | 3-3 | 5.48 ERA | 44.1 IP | 25 Ks | 21 BB | 1.26 WHIP

2024 MiLB Stats: 11 Starts | 7-1 | 1.35 ERA | 60 IP | 56 Ks | 17 BB | 0.87 WHIP

Porter Hodge | Pitcher | Cottonwood HS

MLB – Chicago Cubs

After making his MLB debut in late May, Hodge has solidified himself as a trusted member of manager Craig Cousell’s bullpen. He earned the first save in his young career against the San Francisco Giants on June 27 and has pitched in the seventh inning or later in all nine July appearances.

The Cubs are in the cellar of the National League Central with a 53-58 record.

Locals In MLB: Porter Hodge Reminisces On MLB Debut

Porter Hodge in his first 22 MLB innings:

2.05 ERA
2.70 FIP
29.8 K% (25 K)
10.7 BB% (9 BB)
.133 AVG

And just eye test-wise, imposing mound presence and confidence. Does not at all seem like a rookie. 🔥pic.twitter.com/8WAS4WnwMS https://t.co/qXp9JMrwkh

— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) August 1, 2024

The right-handed Hodge was a two-time state champ at Cottonwood High. He played varsity for four seasons, finishing 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.

Last 7 Games: 0-1 | 9.1 IP | 1.93 ERA | 6 Hits | 6 Ks |  BB | 0.75 WHIP

2024 MLB Stats: 14 Games | 0-1 | 2.16 ERA | 16.2 IP | 18 Ks | 7 BBs | 1.55 WHIP

2024 MiLB Stats: 15 Games | 1-1 | 4.58 ERA | 19.2 IP | 28 Ks | 13 BB | 1.63 WHIP

Utah Utes (1)

Tanner Banks | Pitcher | Salt Lake Bruins

MLB – Philadelphia Phillies

Banks was traded from the MLB-worst Chicago White Sox to the MLB-best Philadelphia Phillies at the MLB trade deadline on July 30.

RELATED: Former Fremont Star Ky Bush Named Southern League POTW

The Riverton High School product played two seasons (2011-12) at Salt Lake Community College before finishing his collegiate career across the valley 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.

Last 7 Games: 0-0 | 6.2 IP | 5.40 ERA | 7 Hits | 9 Ks | 5 BB | 1.80 WHIP

2024 Stats: 42 Games |  2-2 | 2 SV | 7 HLD | 49 IP | 4.04 ERA | 55 Ks | 15 BBs | 1.27 WHIP

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering the Utah State Aggies, Locals in MLB, and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees, Beehive baseball, and Aggie athletics coverage here.

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