1st Round of Banana Ball featured some unexpected surprises as well as old faces in new places
Banana Ball Draft Recap: Unique Format and Round One Highlights
The Banana Ball draft features a distinctive format, setting it apart from traditional drafts. With the announcement of two new teams, the Clowns and Coconuts, each of the original four teams kept 11 players. Both expansion teams received two picks per round—one at the very beginning and one at the very end of each round. Additionally, the teams alternated picks each round, with the Clowns selecting first and eighth in odd rounds, and the Coconuts choosing second and seventh; the order reversed in even rounds.
Below are the selections of Round One and notable tidbits from each pick during Night One of the draft.
Round 1
The night’s biggest surprise came when the Indianapolis Clowns selected an unannounced player with the first overall pick.
- Clowns — Jackie Bradley Jr., OF
The draft’s first pick stunned spectators, as Bradley Jr.—a two-time College World Series champion, All-Star, Gold Glove winner, League Series MVP, and World Series champion—was announced as a Banana Ball player. His arrival signals a major boost for the Clowns. - Coconuts — Drake Fontenot, RHP
Fontenot, the 2025 Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year with Delta State, was the consensus top pitcher available. The right-hander provides stability atop the Coconuts’ rotation. - Tailgaters — Chris Clarke, RHP
Clarke, a former Cubs prospect and All-Pac-12 team member in 2019 for USC, is a lively right-hander. His Major League career ended in August when he was released from the Cubs organization, but he brings valuable experience as he looks to make the transition from tradition ball to banana ball. - Bananas — Austin Drury, LHP
Drury, a left-handed pitcher, spent four seasons in the Dodgers’ system with a career ERA of 3.35. After transitioning to independent ball for a few years, he now joins Banana Ball in hopes to be a staple arm in the flagship rotation. - Firefighters — Eric Jones Jr., 1B/C
A four-year Banana Ball veteran, Jones Jr. is known for his prolific hitting. He’s accumulated 29 career home runs—second only to Jake Skole—and will anchor the Firefighters’ lineup. - Party Animals — Bryson Bloomer, 3B
The defending league champions opted for stability, selecting Bloomer, known as “Coach Bloomer” for his social media coaching videos. He was a Banana Ball All-Star in 2025. - Coconuts — Ben Parker, OF
A college standout with a .371 career batting average, Parker tallied a career-best 10 home runs and a 1.182 OPS in his final season. Known for his backflips and unicycle riding during the Los Angeles try outs, he’s poised to be a fan favorite. - Clowns — Correlle Prime, RHP/1B
Drafted in the 12th round out of high school in 2012, Prime played with the Rockies organization for 6 1/2 years making it up to Double-A Hartford and has spent the past 1½ years with the Bananas, carving out a reputation as a versatile two-way player.
Round One Analysis and Overall Impressions
The biggest winner in the first round may be the Coconuts, who capitalized on their two picks to secure Fontenot and Parker. Fontenot is expected to be a lockdown pitcher, while Parker’s personality and talent—demonstrated during a Los Angeles tryout with his unicycle and backflip catches—make him a potential breakout star.
The Party Animals went with a safe choice at their pick and brought back a core player and crowd favorite, fostering team chemistry from last season’s championship squad.
The Firefighters made a bold move by selecting Jones Jr., one of Banana Ball’s most prolific hitters, significantly strengthening their offense, and some may question the Bananas decision to let go of their veteran star in turn for a pitcher in their selection despite that being a core need coming into the draft.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is already considered a top MVP contender, and the Clowns complemented this pick with an experienced banana Ballplayer in Correlle Prime, capable of contributing both offensively and defensively.
Finally, both the Tailgaters and Bananas focused on addressing team needs by selecting pitchers—Clarke and Drury—who bring considerable minor league experience, despite limited Banana Ball exposure.
