May 23, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks (58) celebrates with catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) after defeating the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Dennis Lee
PHOENIX – If you asked a Phillies fan in March to predict the most trustworthy bullpen arms by September, they probably would have named José Alvarado, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and maybe even new acquisition Jordan Romano.
In all likelihood, they would not have named Tanner Banks.
But over the course of the season, Banks has pitched his way into being the guy manager Rob Thomson calls on to clean up a dirty inning.
"He's been good all year," Thomson said. "Throwing strikes. He's getting both hands out. Right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters."
By every metric, this has been a banner year for Banks. With six games remaining in his fourth major league season, he has a 3.14 ERA across a career-high 67 appearances. If the season ended today, his 1.02 WHIP would be the best mark of his career. He's holding opposing batters to a career-low .262 on-base percentage.
After the Phillies acquired Banks from the Chicago White Sox at the 2024 trade deadline, he inherited just four runners across 22 games. In 2025, he's already inherited 31. Clearly, Banks' role in the Phillies' bullpen has evolved, and he now regularly enters games in high-leverage spots.
Take the Philies' most recent series, for example; Banks appeared against the Arizona Diamondbacks on both Friday and Saturday. Friday, he entered the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs, aiming to protect a 5-2 Phillies lead. Saturday, he came into a 3-3 tie game in the bottom of the sixth with a runner on second and one out.
Banks' new role as a high-leverage reliever comes hand-in-hand with added pressure. It's very different than how he's been used in years past.
"It weighs a little more heavily on you when you know, 'I have to be good from pitch one to this hitter right now,'" Banks said. "There's pressure, but it's good pressure. It kind of wills you in your mind to [think], 'I can't take this pitch off.'"
Entering a clean inning is one thing. Coming into the game with runners already on base changes the equation, and the position of the runners changes it even further. To Banks, coming in with loaded bases or runners on second and third means it's just him and the catcher.
"If it's first and second, I've got to stop the runner's feet, and I'm thinking about the runner, and it's going to pull your attention a little bit from making the pitch, or pull your attention before you focus to make the pitch," Banks said.
Adjusting to that pressure means learning to deal with it, and Banks has done a great deal of hard work off the mound to acclimate.
"I've done a fair amount of mental work this year relative to previous years to try to stay centered, grounded and present in the pitch I'm trying to make," Banks said.
Banks has worked closely with that mental skills coach Hannah Huesman to help his mindset evolve along with his role. Whether it's strategy, a mantra or a cue, the mental work allows him to remain grounded.
According to Banks, the buzz in some ballparks is so loud it's hard to hear yourself think, so the ability to stay centered and make the pitch is essential. But in some quieter ballparks, when one fan boos, or two or three fans heckle, it's clearer.
"It's the difference between having an ambient noise machine when you sleep versus not. You hear all the creaks in the house, versus just the whooshing," Banks said.
"To that point, you hear all of the little thoughts. And that's when that work of having a cue, or a mantra, or a phrase, I use (that) to fill that vacant space. Otherwise, your mind can just go rampant."
If you hear certain words over and over, they can sometimes lose their significance. To avoid that, Banks has changed his phrase two or three times throughout the season.
"I've had cue cards and things in my hat that maybe I'll glance at prior to going in," Banks said. "So much of it is being present, and being able to tell when those things are happening, and then being able to have the tools to center yourself and bring yourself back."
Noticing it in the first place is the initial step for Banks. Employing his go-to phrase is the second step.
"Something as simple as 'win this pitch, win this pitch, win this pitch,'" Banks said. "I might sit there and repeat it, or (think) okay, take your breath, focus on this pitch. What am I trying to do with this pitch?"
That's where the mental work has been most helpful for Banks. For him, the difference between the bases-loaded big moments and the small moments has boiled down to the intent, self-talk and preparation behind each pitch.
The work off the field has resulted in on-field improvement, and Thomson has noticed.
"He's got a lot of confidence, and so consequently, I have a lot of confidence in him," Thomson said. "To be able to win in dirty innings and get out of it is really critical."
Banks will turn 34 years old next month. He didn't make his Major League debut until he was 30, eight years after he was initially drafted.
"I always say you break into the league either as, like, a freak with outlier stuff, or you have to work your way up the peg ladder, as in any business and industry," Banks said.
Banks worked his way up the peg ladder. Thomson placing so much faith in him is the long-awaited payoff.
"It's kind of cool to see the fruits of your labor recognized," Banks said. "But at the same time, [Thomson] is really good, I think, at looking at a situation and knowing what is needed."
Depending on the hitter, Thomson could call on David Robertson, Matt Strahm or Banks.
"I think it's great for Topper to have options, but also, to be in the mix of those options is definitely confidence-building and reassuring," Banks said. "And it's been cool to... have made steps positively, and to find a way to be valuable to the team."
As October approaches, every game is the most important game of the year. Every moment is a big moment. Banks will undoubtedly face some crucial tests in the postseason, but he'll face those big moments one pitch at a time.
"That's what it's boiled down to," Banks said.
"In a big moment, how can I make this pitch right now? And if I don't make the pitch, what has that pitch set me up to do on the next pitch?"
