“If there was ever a player that played for Missouri State in my time that you think would fit with the Bananas, Party animals, etc., this is your guy,” said former MSU Baseball Coach Keith Guttin.
“He’s loud,” said SBU baseball coach Charles Bradley. “He plays like he just has fun out there. He loves fans. Loves baseball, and he went down to that tryout and absolutely crushed it.”
Two college coaches in the Ozarks knew they had a player on their hands with an a-peel-ing- personality for banana ball. Sal Jacobo was a utility player for Southwest Baptist University.
“I always think back at the memories that I made,” Jacobo said.
And Riyan Rodriguez pitched for Missouri State.
“Man, that one year with the Bears was probably the highlight of my baseball career,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve never had more fun and played better baseball in my entire life, and super grateful for the opportunity that Coach Guttin gave me to go play there.”
Rodriguez and Jacobo are Party Animals. It’s no major league baseball team, but these two showcase their wild side in front of sold-out crowds across the nation. Including when the Banana Ball World Tour took them to Busch Stadium.
“Yeah, uh did not expect this at all,” Rodriguez said. “Couldn’t have guessed this in a million years, but this is probably one of the most beautiful ballparks in America.”
The rules of Banana Ball are bananas: The scoring is different, the game is always two hours long and if a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out.
“I’ve had my fair share of fan-caught foul-outs, and they’re not fun,” Jacobo said. “But at the same time, it’s cool for the fan to get that chance.”
Creating an unforgettable fan experience is what it’s all about.
“In baseball, it’s kind of frowned upon to, like, look into the stands or go into the stands or interact with the fans if you’re in the on-deck circle and they are right there,” Jacobo said. “I love that it’s so encouraged that we can literally leave the dugout, go sit next to a fan or a kid and just talk to them.”
Once a Bear and Bearcat, now Party Animals, these local college products are showing that going bananas isn’t such a bad thing after all.
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