Former Red Sox Star Becomes First Full-Time Former MLB Player in ‘Banana Ball’

The Indianapolis Clowns made a bit of history Thursday night, using the first pick in the inaugural “Banana Ball Player Draft” to select Jackie Bradley Jr., the former 11-year major leaguer and 2018 World Series champion.

This draft pick makes Bradley the first former MLB player to commit to playing “Banana Ball” full time, a decision he said came together only “days ago.”

The Clowns will be one of two new teams joining the Savannah Banana’s Banana Ball Championship League in 2026. Existing teams are the aforementioned Bananas, the Party Animals, the Firefighters and the Texas Tailgaters. The Clowns and Loco Beach Coconuts will be the two new expansion teams next year.

Bradley, an All-Star in 2016 and a Gold Glove winner in 2018 during his run in Boston, told ESPN the choice became clearer after his oldest daughter, a devoted Savannah Bananas fan, pushed him to check out the phenomenon up close. Bradley suited up for the Bananas in July during their stop at Fenway Park, an appearance he described as “great” and one that led Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole to approach him about joining the Clowns.

For Bradley, the Clowns’ history mattered. Once upon a time, a franchise under the same name operated as the Negro Leagues’ answer to the Harlem Globetrotters, showcasing entertainment and elite talent, and famously signing Hank Aaron to his first professional deal in 1952.. Founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1962, the Clowns had been dormant until Cole announced in October that they would return as part of the Banana Ball Championship League’s inaugural 60-game season in 2026.

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, called the partnership “a tremendous opportunity, to not only entertain, but educate fans about the rich history of the Negro Leagues while paying homage to the team that helped influence Banana Ball.”

Bradley said the Clowns’ ability to “bridge pre-integration Black baseball to the modern baseball” made joining them feel like a natural fit. He framed his participation as a way to help push the game forward.

“I feel like this was another opportunity to not only the league, but to be able to help the people behind me to … hopefully, catapult other African American ballplayers to want to play the game,” Bradley told ESPN.

He hasn’t shut the door on a potential MLB return - his last appearance came in 2023 with the Royals - but made it clear it’s no longer a driving force.

“If there's an opportunity [to go back to the majors], I would obviously weigh that. If that's for my family, then I'm not going to rule out any opportunities,” said Bradley. “But it's not something that I'm striving for. I'm very content with how my career has unfolded. I've been truly blessed. I'm just enjoying the moment.”

Bradley added that he tries to “be present where my feet are,” and that joining the Clowns was the kind of unique opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Cole described him as a perfect match for Banana Ball - someone who brings flair, energy, and still-impactful play.

His arrival could signal a shift in the sport’s ecosystem. Former big leaguers have made cameo appearances before, including Roger Clemens in March 2024 and Johnny Damon in July, but a full-season commitment is new territory. Cole believes Bradley’s presence could open the door for others.

“If there's players at the end of their career that want to just go and maybe play 60 games instead of 160 and play at sold-out stadiums and really just have a lot of fun while doing it, I think this could be something that would be a viable option,” he told ESPN. “Jackie's a trendsetter, and I think he's going to set the tone for maybe giving some other players at the end of their careers another option.”

Bradley stressed this isn’t a farewell tour, but rather something he hopes extends well beyond an introductory season. He acknowledged that every career “has to come to an end at some point,” yet said he’s learned to appreciate every part of the baseball journey, the highs and lows alike.

I had the pleasure of watching Banana Ball in-person at Fenway Park this past summer. And I gotta say - it was a rip-roaring good time. I’ll post a video above of one of my favorite moments - an impromptu concert from the All-American Rejects in the middle of the game.

Is it baseball? Absolutely not. But it’s the perfect mix of Harlem-Globetrotters-meets-WWE in that there is definitely somewhat of a script being followed. It’s sports entertainment at the highest level, and I think if done properly has the chance to be an even bigger deal than it already is. They’ve clearly figured out the social media buzz component. Now it’s time to take this thing to the next level.

Banana Ball itself has surged since 2022 and is poised for even more growth, with the Banana Ball Championship League expected to play in front of 3.2 million fans next year.

Bradley becoming the league’s first full-time former MLB player is another sign of how quickly the sport is evolving, and how much higher its ceiling may still be.

Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.