{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Brandon Bantz | image = Bantz.JPG | caption = Bantz with the Seattle Mariners | image_size = 240px | team = | number = | position = Catcher | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|1|7}} | birth_place = Mansfield, Texas, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = June 8 | debutyear = 2013 | debutteam = Seattle Mariners | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = June 8 | finalyear = 2013 | finalteam = Seattle Mariners | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .000 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 0 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 0 | teams= * Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2013}}) }} '''Brandon Bantz''' (born January 7, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played one game in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners in 2013.
==Career== ===Amateur=== A native of Arlington, Texas, Bantz attended Mansfield High School where he was teammates with Jordan Walden.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Passmore |first1=Lee |title=MHS survives to win series over Mansfield |url=https://www.mrt.com/news/article/MHS-survives-to-win-series-over-Mansfield-7813344.php |accessdate=5 July 2020 |work=Midland Reporter-Telegram |date=23 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Bob |title=Jays prospect a real knockout |url=https://torontosun.com/2012/08/20/jays-prospect-a-real-knockout/wcm/93eef94f-878a-40ac-9431-21dc0bebef57 |accessdate=5 July 2020 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=21 August 2012 |language=en-CA}}</ref> He played college baseball at Dallas Baptist University. In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2008&T=Bourne_Braves |title=2008 Bourne Braves |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>
===Seattle Mariners=== Bantz was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 30th round, with the 893rd overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.
Bantz was called up to the major leagues for the first time on June 5, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2013/06/05/mariners-call-up-new-catcher-brandon-bantz-as-injuries-force-more-roster-moves/|title = Home}}</ref> Bantz appeared once for the Mariners, starting at catcher in his only appearance. At the plate, he faced Andy Pettitte twice, grounding out once and striking out once before Endy Chávez replaced him as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. Behind the plate, he caught Joe Saunders, Danny Farquhar and Óliver Pérez. He allowed stolen bases to Robinson Canó and Jayson Nix.<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners Box Score, June 8, 2013 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201306080.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=5 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Bantz was designated for assignment by the Mariners on June 11.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mariners Designate Brandon Bantz For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/mariners-designate-brandon-bantz-for-assignment.html|access-date=December 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on June 13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Slama, LaRoche, Bantz, Madrigal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/andy-laroche-outrighted-to-triple-a.html|access-date=December 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> Bantz spent the remainder of the season with the Double-A Jackson Generals Tacoma, slashing .219/.282/.307 with three home runs and 15 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Paddy Matera|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/minor-moves-paddy-matera.html|access-date=December 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
Bantz was released by the Mariners on March 27, 2014.
===Washington Nationals=== On April 1, 2014, Bantz signed as a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. In 22 games for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, he slashed .271/.320/.343 with no home runs and six RBI. Bantz was released by the Nationals organization on May 23.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=May 23, 2014 |title=Minor Moves: Maxwell, Bantz, Swauger |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/minor-moves-maxwell-bantz-swauger.html |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Miami Marlins=== On January 19, 2015, Bantz signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brandon Bantz Trades And Transactions|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=bantzbr01|access-date=December 29, 2024|website=baseball-almanac.com|language=en}}</ref> In 68 games split between the Double-A Jacksonville Suns and Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, he batted a combined .245/.318/.359 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Bantz elected free agency following the season on November 6.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=572702|br=b/bantzbr01|brm=bantz-001bra}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bantz, Brandon}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Seattle Mariners players Category:Baseball players from Ellis County, Texas Category:Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball players Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Sportspeople from Mansfield, Texas Category:Pulaski Mariners players Category:Everett AquaSox players Category:Clinton LumberKings players Category:West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players Category:Jackson Generals (Southern League) players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:High Desert Mavericks players Category:Adelaide Bite players Category:Harrisburg Senators players Category:Long Island Ducks players Category:Jacksonville Suns players Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players Category:Bourne Braves players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Australia Category:Waterloo Bucks players