Will Banfield Bio
William Frank Banfield, known professionally as Will Banfield, is an American professional baseball catcher who has spent time in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Born on November 18, 1999, in Snellville, Georgia, he was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and later made his major league debut with the Reds in 2025. Across his first MLB stint, he appeared in seven games and recorded one hit in ten at-bats.
Early Life and Background
William Frank Banfield was born and raised in Snellville, Georgia, a community east of Atlanta that has produced several notable baseball players. Growing up in the area, he developed his catching skills through local youth and school programs, eventually emerging as one of the top catching prospects in the southeastern United States.
He attended Brookwood High School in Snellville, where he drew national scouting attention for his defensive work behind the plate and his right-handed power at the plate. His high school performance placed him among the top catching prospects in his draft class and set the stage for his selection in the 2018 MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Banfield’s professional career began in 2018, when the Miami Marlins selected him in the second round, sixty-ninth overall, of the Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins before finishing his first season with the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers.
In 2019, he advanced to the Single-A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League, where he appeared in 101 games and posted a slash line of .199/.252/.310 with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in. The following season was lost when minor league play was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he returned to action in 2021 with the High-A Beloit Snappers, hitting .180/.258/.308 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in over 67 games.
Will Banfield Career
Early Career (2018-2022)
Banfield’s early professional years were defined by steady development through the Miami Marlins farm system. In 2022, he split time between Beloit and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, appearing in 102 games and combining to slash .223/.258/.366 with eleven home runs and 52 runs batted in. That season marked his first extended look at the Double-A level and helped establish his reputation as a defense-first catcher with emerging offensive upside.
By the end of 2022, he had progressed from rookie ball through three full-season affiliates, providing the Marlins organization with a depth option at the catching position.
Pensacola and Jacksonville (2023-2024)
Banfield’s most productive offensive season came in 2023, when he spent the full year with the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He appeared in 115 games and batted .258/.302/.472 with a career-high 23 home runs and 76 runs batted in, showcasing the kind of right-handed power that originally drew the Marlins’ attention in the draft.
He moved up to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2024, where he played 93 games and batted .247/.296/.379 with nine home runs and 41 runs batted in. After the season, he elected free agency on November 4, 2024, ending his time in the Miami Marlins system.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2024-Present)
On November 22, 2024, Will Banfield signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats. With Louisville in 2025, he appeared in 72 games and hit .220/.277/.304 with two home runs and 23 runs batted in while serving as a steady defensive presence behind the plate.
On August 20, 2025, Banfield was added to the Reds’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He went on to make seven appearances for Cincinnati during his rookie campaign, collecting one hit in ten at-bats for a .100 batting average. On November 21, he was non-tendered by the Reds and became a free agent, then re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract on December 2, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Banfield’s first major league hit came during his rookie stint with the Reds in August 2025, marking the culmination of a seven-year climb through the minor leagues. His 23-home-run season at Pensacola in 2023 stands as the offensive high point of his professional career to date.
Will Banfield Career Wins
Will Banfield’s professional résumé is built on development rather than championship hardware, with his most notable achievement being his 2018 second-round selection by the Miami Marlins and his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2025.
Minor League Highlights
Across seven minor league seasons in the Marlins and Reds systems, Banfield reached as high as Triple-A and posted a career-high 23 home runs with Pensacola in 2023. He signed with Cincinnati ahead of 2025 and made his MLB debut that August, becoming the first player from that 2018 Marlins draft class to reach the majors from his specific path.
Other Performances
Banfield’s most recent full season in Triple-A came with Jacksonville in 2024, where his .296 on-base percentage and 41 runs batted in underscored his role as a contact-and-defense catcher at the top level of the minors.
Will Banfield Family
Personal Life
William Frank Banfield was raised in Snellville, Georgia, and continues to be identified publicly with that hometown. Beyond his connection to the Brookwood High School community, few additional personal details have been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Will Banfield’s 2025 campaign was split between the Triple-A Louisville Bats and the Cincinnati Reds. With Louisville, he served as a regular catcher and hit .220/.277/.304 with two home runs and 23 runs batted in over 72 games, anchoring the Bats’ pitching staff while waiting for a major league opportunity.
That opportunity arrived on August 20, when the Reds added him to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the majors. In his first taste of big league action, he appeared in seven games and went 1-for-10. Although the batting average finished at .100, the stint provided Banfield with valuable major league experience and positioned him for further development within the organization.
Following the season, Cincinnati non-tendered Banfield on November 21 before re-signing him to a minor league deal on December 2, keeping him in the system as the 2025 calendar closed. The arrangement suggests the Reds view him as a depth option behind the plate heading into the next campaign.
