Cole Stanford will be the first to tell you that his vision of the future of his baseball career after college would look much different.
But less than 72 hours after his college career ended, Stanford had his apartment packed and set to out to pursue a different opportunity.
The Florida baseball alum, who transferred from Lenoir-Rhyne this past season, is looking to earn a spot in the Banana Ball Championship League. The league is best known for its marquee franchise the Savannah Bananas, which has reimagined the traditional baseball experience by blending the sport with music, comedy, fan participation, and trick plays while drawing sellout crowds in football stadiums across the country.
After years of sellout crowds watching single exhibition games, this past year the Banana Ball Championship League was created and has become a touring attraction that is regularly featured on ESPN.
Stanford is currently training with one of the league’s developmental programs, the Visitors, and is hoping to be selected in the upcoming Banana Ball draft. Yet for the catcher, who delivered six home runs and hit .204 this season at Florida, it was initially not his first choice.
“When they offered me a chance to play here, it was honestly when playing my best at Florida this season,” Stanford said. “Obviously, every kid’s dream is to get drafted by an affiliated team and play affiliated baseball. When I was playing well, I don’t want to say that I was reluctant to play Banana Ball, but I didn’t want to pass up on the ability to play affiliated baseball quite yet.
“It’s a way that I can keep playing, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It’s been awesome.”
Unlike most aspiring Banana Ball players, who submit audition video and attend tryouts, Stanford was invited to tryout through his former teammates from Lenoir-Rhyne. Two of those teammates coach within the league, and another plays for the Bandits.
Stanford had no clue what to expect, nor did he realize the intensity of the training, and unlike at Florida, Stanford is rotating between catcher, first base and the outfield.
“We showed up for our first day for our first full team practice, and they whooped our butts,” Stanford said. “I’m still sore from our first practice. It’s a full-blown strength training program.”
It’s much like a normal baseball practice that features infield and outfield work as well as batting practice. Yet the only difference is that players are encouraged to work in and try to develop any tricks along the way.
“I’ve learned how to catch flyballs behind my back,” Stanford said. “I’ve learned how to spin in a circle and catch flyballs behind my back. I’ve been working on just the most random stuff that I can think of, but these aren’t things that we do every single play during the game. You pick the right situations, and then you go for it.”
Another key component is to have an open mind and a positive attitude, which Stanford has fully embraced.
“There are so many guys involved in this that don’t know how to walk on stilts or hit on a unicycle or do back flips,” Stanford said. “The biggest thing they preach to us is to be a great guy and someone that is fun to hang around. Honestly, my biggest thing that I have been trying to focus on is being willing to do anything. Try dances, try catching balls behind my back, try different positions, and be as open to trying as many new things as possible.
However, there is no guarantee that Stanford will earn a spot on one of the six different teams in the Banana Ball league, as he has 10 weeks to impress one of the franchises. The upcoming Banana Ball draft will consist of 11 rounds and 88 players are selected. However, each team is permitted to franchise tag 16 players, guaranteeing them a spot the following season. Any player not franchise-tagged is placed in the draft pool.
Should his prospects as a Savannah Banana not come to fruition, Stanford’s plan is to stay in baseball and chase a coaching career, but for now the idea of playing in front one of the largest crowds in the sports has fueled him.
“I’ve talked to some of the coaches at Florida about trying to get into coaching in professional baseball,” Stanford said. “Ultimately that would be a huge goal of mine to accomplish if I’m able to do that. If the Banana Ball thing doesn’t work out this summer, then that’s something I’ll revisit.
“I think that would be the coolest thing ever to go play in front of 110,000 people.”
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Former Florida baseball player Cole Stanford chasing chance to play Banana Ball
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
