The Los Angeles Dodgers walked into Minnesota on Monday with a two-game losing streak and a 12-1 loss to the Orioles still fresh in their minds. But before the first pitch against the Twins, there was a moment that cut through all that: Anthony Banda got his 2025 World Series ring.
Banda, who spent the last two seasons in LA before signing with Minnesota in the offseason, met up with his old teammates before the series opener. The video, shared by Dodgers Nation, shows him shaking hands and hugging guys he went to war with. It’s his second ring with the organization, which is a pretty good haul for a pitcher who wasn’t even on the roster a few years ago.
“Anthony Banda has received his 2025 World Series ring and reunited with his former Dodgers teammates,” Dodgers Nation posted on X. “Banda turned his career around with LA, won 2 titles, and became a fan favorite. This is awesome to see.”
And it kind of is. Banda wasn’t a star in LA — he was a bullpen arm who threw 65 innings last season with a 3.18 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and a 5-1 record in 71 games. That’s solid, not spectacular. But he became one of those guys fans root for because he bounced back after bouncing around the league. The Dodgers gave him a real shot, and he made the most of it.
Banda’s new life in Minnesota
With the Twins so far, Banda’s numbers aren’t quite as sharp: 4.22 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 2-0 record, two saves. But he’s still pitching meaningful innings for a team that’s hanging around the playoff picture. Minnesota is 37-40, not great but not buried either, and Banda’s been a steady presence out of the pen.
For the Dodgers, the series against the Twins is a chance to reset. They’re 49-29, first in the NL West, and that Orioles series was a rough one. Two straight losses, the offense went quiet, the pitching got beat up. But it’s June. Nobody’s panicking yet.
Still, seeing Banda get his ring is a nice reminder that baseball is a small world. One day you’re in the clubhouse celebrating a championship. The next you’re shaking hands with those same guys before a Tuesday night game in July. The ring doesn’t change that.
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