Jett Bandy

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jett Bandy

| image = Jett Bandy catcher on 6 22 16.jpg

| caption = Bandy with the Angels in 2016

| team =

| number =

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|03|26}}

| birth_place = West Hills, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 14

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Los Angeles Angels

|finaldate=May 23

|finalyear=2018

|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers

| statyear =

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .218

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 16

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 45

| awards =

| teams =

Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2018}})

}}

Jett Adam Bandy (born March 26, 1990) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers.

Early life

Jett Bandy was raised in West Hills, California,{{cite news |title=BEES CATCHER JETT BANDY SELECTED 2015 PCL ALL-STAR |url=https://www.lhm.com/bees-catcher-jett-bandy-selected-2015-pcl-all-star/ |access-date=April 26, 2020 |publisher=Larry H. Miller Group of Companies |date=July 1, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Bill Lachemann, 78, keeps Angels ahead of curve behind the plate |url=https://www.latimes.com/la-sp-angels-bill-lachemann-20130315-story.html |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 15, 2013}} the second of four children.{{cite news |last1=Gammon |first1=Robert |title=Melon-Sized Lemon Spotted Growing on Tree |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-26-me-12290-story.html |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 26, 1998}} Bandy's first name is a portmanteau, after his father John, and grandfather Chet. John Bandy was responsible for teaching Tom Cruise flair bartending for the 1988 film Cocktail. Jett's mother is Sheryl.{{cite news |last1=Rosiak |first1=Todd |title=Get to Know: Q&A with Brewers catcher Jett Bandy |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/05/08/get-know-q-brewers-catcher-jett-bandy/101422976/ |access-date=April 25, 2020 |work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |date=May 8, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Thousand Oaks' Jett takes off |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2008/05/02/thousand-oaks-jett-takes-off/ |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=May 2, 2008}}

Bandy first met his wife in 2012, while he was playing in the minor leagues.{{cite news |last1=Potkey |first1=Rhiannon |title=Minor League Notebook: Bandy takes stealing personally |url=https://archive.vcstar.com/sports/columnists/rhiannon-potkey/minor-league-notebook-bandy-takes-stealing-personally-ep-482021911-351162151.html |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Ventura County Star |date=July 5, 2014}}

Career

File:Jett Bandy Nashville 2019 2.jpg in 2019 as photographed by Nick Heath]]

=Amateur=

Bandy attended Thousand Oaks High School in Thousand Oaks, California. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the 41st round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign. Bandy enrolled at University of Arizona, and played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats.{{cite web|url=http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/031411_bandy_catcher/wildcat-catcher-throws-weight-behind-plate/|title=Wildcat catcher throws weight behind plate - UA Wildcats baseball|work=TucsonSentinel.com|access-date=December 11, 2014}} In 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=70204&seasonid=239 |title=#17 Jett Bandy |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 20, 2021}}

=Los Angeles Angels=

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Bandy in the 31st round of the 2011 MLB Draft.{{cite web |author=Berk |first=Daniel |date=June 9, 2011 |title=MLB draft: Angels take UA's Bandy on final day |url=https://tucson.com/sports/baseball/college/wildcats/mlb-draft-angels-take-ua-s-bandy-on-final-day/article_6970d860-5d40-58c6-90d0-59ce685fc9a6.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=Arizona Daily Star}} He signed with the Angels and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Angels and also played for the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. He played for the Salt Lake Bees in 2011 and Inland Empire 66ers in 2012. Bandy played for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in both 2013 and 2014.

Bandy made his Major League debut on September 14, 2015.{{cite news |last=Hoehn |first=Jim |date=September 15, 2015 |title=Smith and Walker lead Mariners to 10-1 win over Angels |url=https://apnews.com/article/2aff47803763496b920f0554d02d8ec1 |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=Associated Press}} In 2016, he batted .234/.281/.392 in 209 at bats.

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On December 13, 2016, Bandy was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Martín Maldonado and Drew Gagnon.{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/angels-738303-maldonado-year.html|title=Angels deal Jett Bandy to Brewers, acquire catcher Martin Maldonado|last=Hoornstra|first=J.P.|work=Orange County Register|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2016}}{{cite news |title=Brewers get Bandy, deal Maldonado to Angels in catcher swap |url=https://apnews.com/1a6a4eb80807474e951f4891c831be71 |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=December 13, 2016}} He made the opening day roster,{{cite news |last1=Andrade |first1=Jonathan |title=Welcome to the show |url=https://www.toacorn.com/articles/welcome-to-the-show/ |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Thousand Oaks Acorn |date=July 20, 2017}} and began the 2017 season splitting playing time at catcher with Manny Piña.{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/04/15/notes-pi-making-most-his-opportunity/100374392/|title=Notes: Piña making most of his opportunity|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|date=April 15, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Rosiak |first1=Todd |title=Notes: Timeshare will continue for Brewers' catchers |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/06/17/brewnot-18/395141001/ |access-date=April 26, 2020 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=June 17, 2017}} Following the acquisition of Stephen Vogt, formerly of the Oakland Athletics, and due in part to a recent slump, Bandy was optioned down to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox on June 25.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-25 |title=Brewers' Jett Bandy: Demoted to minors |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-jett-bandy-demoted-to-minors/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} Bandy, however, was recalled from the Sky Sox after Vogt went on the disabled list for neck and leg injuries on July 17.{{cite web|url=http://www.wtmj.com/sports/baseball/milwaukee-brewers/brewers-put-catcher-vogt-on-disabled-list-guerra-reinstated|title=Brewers put catcher Vogt on disabled list among six roster moves Tuesday; Vogt may be out a month|last=Sorgi|first=Jay|work=WTMJ |date=July 18, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2017}}

On May 25, 2018, Bandy was designated for assignment.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=2018-05-25 |title=Brewers Acquire Erik Kratz, Designate Jett Bandy, Option Orlando Arcia |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/brewers-trade-erik-kratz-yankees-dfa-jett-bandy.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On October 31, Bandy became a minor league free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=November 12, 2018}}

=Texas Rangers=

On November 7, 2018, Bandy signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.{{cite web |last=Fraley |first=Gerry |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Rangers add Major-League Experience, Organizational Depth at Catcher |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2018/11/07/rangers-add-major-league-experience-organizational-depth-at-catcher/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Dallas Morning News}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds for the 2019 season,{{cite web |date=March 27, 2019 |title=Sounds Announce Tentative Opening Day Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/news/nashville-sounds-2019-opening-day-roster-305734174 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=MiLB.com}} hitting .231/.279/.430 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI. Bandy elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On December 20, 2019, the Boston Red Sox signed Bandy to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.{{cite web |url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220211456/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=December 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=August 22, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Bandy became a minor league free agent on November 2, 2020.{{cite news |url=https://bloggingtheredsox.com/2020/11/02/former-red-sox-utilityman-tzu-wei-lin-is-now-a-minor-league-free-agent/ |title=Former Red Sox utilityman Tzu-Wei Lin is now a minor-league free agent |first=Brendan |last=Campbell |website=bloggingtheredsox.com |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020}}

On February 22, 2021, Bandy re-signed with the Red Sox on a minor league contract and was invited to spring training.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/minor-mlb-transactions-12221.html |title=Minor MLB Transactions |first=Mark |last=Polishuk |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=February 22, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}} Bandy played in 34 games for the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox, hitting .208 with three home runs and 16 RBI. On September 11, Bandy was released by the Red Sox.{{Cite web |title=Jett Bandy Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/jett-bandy-542908 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=MLB.com}}