Jared Banner on his path to Cubs front office, advice to young fans
Jared Banner is at the moment in his second 12 months because the Cubs’ vice chairman of participant growth, and his enthusiasm for the job comes by way of after only one dialog with him. He is, as is commonly stated in baseball, “living the dream,” and the 37-year-old takes loads of delight in his position in serving to to develop gamers as they make their means by way of the Minor Leagues.
“It’s putting together a good process and infrastructure – putting together the right team,” Banner stated by way of phone. “When I say team, I mean our coaches, strength and conditioning staff, athletic trainers, our office staff, everyone together. That’s the part that I love – spending time with my teammates, chasing after a common goal of making our players better on a daily basis.”
Since he arrived in Chicago, Banner has labored to ensure analytics and the attention take a look at work hand in hand within the farm system, which over time has been a vital a part of the job.
“It’s communication and collaboration,” Banner stated. “I don’t think you want to move to any one side. I think we do try to stay grounded in the evidence, but at the end of the day, [the Minor Leaguers] are human beings. There needs to be a human touch, a care, a belief in each other and a culture created. Those are things we focus on as much as any statistic.”
The Cubs are anticipated to be an improved group in 2023, and Banner feels this can be a nice time to be a part of the group. He feels prospects equivalent to outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong (the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), Brennen Davis (No. 2), Kevin Alcantara (No. 3) and pitchers Jordan Wicks (No. 5) and Ben Brown (No. 7) might attain the Majors quickly.
“We have a large group at the upper levels that are ready to contribute,” Banner stated. “… In due time, we don’t want to rush anything, but when those opportunities come, the key is for us to make sure they are ready for them. That’s our sole focus.”
Banner all the time needed to be concerned in skilled baseball. His love for the sport dates again to his childhood whereas rising up in Brooklyn; he was a loyal Mets fan, whereas honing his personal baseball abilities in The Parade Grounds of Prospect Park.
After taking part in baseball for 4 seasons at Poly Prep Country Day School, Banner went to Amherst College and performed third base and the outfield.
Following his commencement from Amherst in 2007, Banner knew taking part in skilled baseball wasn’t going to be his future. He needed to work in a entrance workplace. Long-time Amherst coach Bill Thurston attached Banner with Pirates basic supervisor Ben Cherington, who was then working for the Red Sox because the group’s vice chairman of participant personnel.
Banner and Cherington each attended Amherst and performed for Thurston — 11 years aside. Cherington made Banner an intern in participant growth. What was the largest recommendation Cherington gave him?
“The one thing that stands out is, anytime you are working with others or working for others, you want to make their lives and jobs easier. That’s something I tried to keep in mind,” Banner stated. “It’s not always what is in your job description. Sometimes, it can be way outside what you expect to be doing. If that’s what is going to be helpful at the time, that’s what needs to be done. That’s something that stood out for me.”
Banner listened to Cherington and lasted just a little greater than 10 years with Boston. He moved up alongside the best way, changing into an assistant to participant growth in 2008 earlier than changing into vice chairman of participant personnel in 2018. In these 10-plus years, Cherington wasn’t the one one Banner discovered from within the Red Sox group.
“I had the chance to learn from some really special people – some really great baseball minds like Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Dave Dombrowski and Allard Baird. The list goes on and on,” Banner stated.
After receiving three World Series rings (2007, ’13 and ’18) with Boston, Banner labored for his hometown group, the Mets, for 2 years in participant growth earlier than becoming a member of the Cubs.
Banner want to see younger African Americans observe in his footsteps in baseball. He has recommendation on keep within the sport for a very long time.
“The key is to keep learning and growing, keep trying to meet people and start networking. Those things go hand in hand,” Banner stated. “The extra individuals you’ll be able to meet and study from, the broader your community goes to develop. The extra alternatives you’ll be part of.
“You want to be around baseball as much as possible at any level, whether it be the amateur level – high school, college, summer ball. There were a lot of people in those spaces who eventually grew in professional baseball.”
