Players You Probably Didn’t Know the Pittsburgh Pirates Drafted

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27 Feb 2000: Coach Jeff Bannister #70 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a studio portrait Photo Day during Spring Training in Bradenton, Florida.
27 Feb 2000: Coach Jeff Bannister #70 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a studio portrait Photo Day during Spring Training in Bradenton, Florida. /

Catcher Jeff Banister

Jeff Banister is best known for his role as the Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach from mid-2010 to 2014. As well as for being the Texas Rangers’ manager from 2015 to 2018. In his time with the Rangers, he won the 2015 AL Manager of the Year. However, at one point, the now special assistant in baseball operations for the Pirates was once drafted by the organization.

Banister was drafted in the 25th round of the 1986 MLB Draft. Banister made his way through the minors as a light hitting catcher/first baseman. He has a career minor league OPS of only .665 in 1,781 plate appearances. But, despite this, Banister played in the Majors. He has all of one game to his name.

In 1991 at the age of 27, Banister managed to get one plate appearance on July 23rd against the Atlanta Braves. With the Pirates leading 10 to 3, Banister pinch hit for former Pirates’ ace Doug Drabek. Banister managed a single in the bottom of the 8th. At the very least he can say that he has a career 1.000 batting average. Obviously, this is something that very few players, at any level of baseball, can say.