Jackie Bradley Jr. is making a smooth on-field transition to Banana Ball, but the former Boston Red Sox outfielder says the off-field entertainment side is still taking some getting used to.
Speaking Wednesday on SportsCenter, Bradley Jr. said the choreographed dances and constant fan interaction have been the biggest adjustment in Banana Ball. The 36-year-old said he is used to Major League Baseball being entertaining in its own way, but this format asks players to be part of the show in a much more direct way.
“Right now I’m just trying not to be the worst dancer,” Bradley Jr. said, adding that as long as he avoids that title, he feels like he is winning. He also said he wants to put smiles on people’s faces and make their Banana Ball games a great experience.
Strong start on the field
The performance has matched the attention. Bradley Jr. is batting.400 with 55 hits and 27 RBIs in 38 games, a strong start for a player who spent 11 seasons in MLB and built a reputation around Gold Glove defense. He also became the third player in Banana Ball history to hit for the cycle on April 10 against the Loco Beach Coconuts.
That production matters because Bradley Jr. is not just another former MLB player passing through the format. He is the first former MLB player to commit to Banana Ball full-time, making his performance part of a growing experiment for the sport. The Indianapolis Clowns joined Banana Ball this past season and selected Bradley Jr. with their first pick in the player draft.
Backflips, dancing and the learning curve
Bradley Jr. said the adjustment goes beyond dancing. He explained that while he has always known how to backflip, doing it while catching a ball is another challenge entirely. Once he starts focusing on the ball, he said, he can forget about the backflip and end up bailing halfway through.
Still, he said it is something he is working on and that he has been holding off for now. With the summer getting closer, Bradley Jr. suggested that more could be coming. For now, though, the goal is simple: keep producing, keep adjusting and try not to be the worst dancer in Banana Ball.
Banana Ball has been around since 2020, created by Jesse Cole and Emily, and it has grown into a non-traditional style of baseball built around choreographed dances, fan interaction and constant entertainment. The Savannah Bananas first began as a college summer baseball league team before growing into the Banana Ball brand, and Bradley Jr. is now part of that expanding story.
