The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ZION Bannister received his second promotion of the 2022 season within the Texas Rangers organisation.

Bannister was assigned to the Hickory Crawdads, the Rangers’ High-A level in the South Atlantic League club based in Hickory, North Carolina.

The highly touted 6’3”, 190- pound outfield prospect began the year on a high note when he joined the Rangers’ Spring Training roster for Cactus League play in Surprise, Arizona.

In late March, his first assignment of the season was in Arizona Complex League at the Rookie level. He spent 10 games with the ACL Rangers and hit .281 with four RBI.

Bannister went 3-4 with a double in the Rangers’ 4-2 win over the ACL Dodgers in the season opener.

On July 12 he was assigned to the Down East Wood Ducks, the Rangers’ Single-A affiliate, based in Kinston, Carolina in the Carolina League.

He made his debut with the club on July 15 and finished 1-2 with a run scored in the Ducks’ 6-3 series opening win over the Columbia Fireflies on July 13.

In his tenure with the club, he hit .184 with nine hits with four RBI and two stolen bases.

Bannister was originally signed by the Rangers in July 2019 and was made his debut on the Dominican Summer League roster the following month.

As a member of the DSL Rangers 2, he hit .273 with six hits, one RBI, and a .333 OPS.

He progressed to the AZL Rangers of the Arizona Rookie League on August 15 as a late season call up and appeared in 37 games where he hit .227 with six doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI.

In 34 AZL games, he hit .308 with a .425 OBP, .442 slugging percentage, and an .866 OPS. He totalled 37 hits, including four doubles, three triples and two home runs with 14 RBI, 27 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

MLB Pipeline previously ranked Bannister as the fastest player within the Rangers’ farm system, with his fastest time being a 6.3 second 60-yard dash.