The Major League Baseball amateur player draft came and went.
Jake Bazala thought his professional baseball dream was over. He then received a call from Berry Aldridge.
Aldridge represented the Savannah Bananas. He found Bazala, a recent Mercyhurst University graduate, pitching in the Coastal Plains League.
Aldridge offered Bazala a try-out. Soon after, the Bananas selected him in the 10th round of their first-year player draft.
Bazala reported for training camp Jan. 14. He’ll soon play with the Bananas in sold-out stadiums across the United States.
Bazala’s dreams of pro ball came true. Banana Ball, however, differs slightly from the baseball known by most.
It’s a mix of sport and entertainment and sold millions of tickets across the United States in 2025. It blends strikeouts and home runs with stunts and choreographed dances.
Bazala, who grew up in a dance studio, seems the perfect candidate.
“It was kind of a dream I didn’t know I had,” Bazala said before leaving Erie for Savannah. “It’s just a really interesting, fun spin on a game I grew up loving.”
Pitching and dancing
Bazala did it all at the Pazaz Christian Dance Academy in Greensburg: Ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and more. His mother, Toni, owns the studio.
A decision eventually loomed: Rehearsal or baseball? Choosing the latter led him to Mercyhurst, where he pitched 217.2 innings across four seasons.
Bazala mentioned his high school experience with theatre and show choir during a pre-draft interview. He may not have needed them at Hurst, but this background — plus eight years of dance — prepped him for professional baseball.
“Everything in sports is rhythm. Flexibility, balance and understanding your body and where it’s at in the space provided, and where you need to be at a certain time,” Bazala said. “I think growing up with that rhythm helped me a lot in baseball.”
What is Banana Ball?
Banana Ball’s popularity ran so rampant that Savannah introduced a lottery system for ticket purchases and added two expansion teams for 2026.
Savannah once belonged to the same Coastal Plains League where it found Bazala pitching for the Martinsville Mustangs. It now headlines the all-new Banana Ball Championship League, which debuts in February.
“They’re changing the game every game they play,” said Bazala, who grew up roughly 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. “It’s hard to put into words the thought of playing in a stadium in front of a lot of fans and having a lot of fun with it instead of worrying about how I’m doing.”
Fitting the mold
Savannah liked Bazala’s collegiate consistency — he threw a career-high 81.1 innings in 2025 and posted a 2.62 career ratio of strikeouts to walks. His tryout included two innings pitched, plus dancing, of course.
Mercyhurst baseball coach Jimmy Latona said that Bazala’s personality will make him a good Banana Ball player.
“He’s a very outgoing, outspoken character,” Latona said. “I think he’ll fit in really well there.”
Bazala owns a 3.64 career collegiate earned run average and was twice named all-conference, once in the PSAC and once in the NEC.
He also made Laker history.
“We’ve had guys who have been drafted into major leagues and things like that,” Latona said. “The first thing I texted Jake was, ‘You’re the first Banana to get drafted.’”
Perhaps Bazala will even utilize what was once his signature dance move: The head spin.
“There are people who wouldn’t watch an MLB game who go to these sold-out stadiums to watch Banana Ball,” Bazala said. “I think it’s a really smart idea, and it’s really entertaining, even for people who enjoy normal baseball.”
