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By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda
Cronkite News
GLENDALE – Four players with ties to Arizona had a special homecoming before the Savannah Bananas embarked on their 2025 Banana Ball World Tour.
During an exciting opening weekend at Sloan Park in Mesa and Camelback Ranch in Glendale, pitchers Ryan Kellogg and Austin Krzeminski of the Bananas, as well as Bronson Balhom and Jake Lialios of rivals Party Animal, began a season in front of fans they knew well.
A Savannah Bananas game is far from a traditional baseball experience. With nonstop music playing around the stadium, choreographed dances, mid-game tricks, and even players interacting with the fans, it’s baseball reimagined with high energy for everyone to participate in. From players racing into the stands to deliver roses after winning an inning to dancing in the batter’s box, the action never stops.
Putting aside the typical trick plays, dancing routines and fast-paced action, for the Arizona-connected players, the games took on added meaning. The opening series wasn’t just about entertaining the crowds; it was a chance to relive memories in a place that helped shape the careers of the players with Arizona ties.
Those ties run deep, especially for Kellogg, who spent three seasons at ASU before going pro. Returning to the desert for the Bananas’ tour opener brought back memories of his time in Tempe.
“It’s been quite a journey so far, a decade since I departed from Arizona State,” Kellogg said. “I was fortunate enough to be in a great program with the Sun Devils, and I was able to get drafted by the Chicago Cubs. I spent seven years making my way up, eventually reaching Triple-A in 2021.
“My last season with the Cubs was in 2021, then I started bouncing from place to place, looking for a new home. I talked with my buddy, and he told me that the Savannah Bananas were looking for an arm, and I got in contact with them and skyrocketed from there. It’s been a rollercoaster ride these last two years.”
Returning to Arizona was a full-circle experience for Kellogg, but Krzeminski, who has spent the last five years in Chandler, found that beginning the tour in Arizona had advantages.
It allowed Krzeminski to be mentally prepared before going on the year-long tour, as he was able to deepen connections with his close supporters before departing.
“I’m really happy that we’re out here in Arizona to start off the tour,” Krzeminski said. “Despite growing up in Atlanta, I have a lot of family and friends in the Valley, and I’m grateful that they’re able to come out and see what I’m doing for a career.
“I never thought I was going to leave Atlanta, but I decided I needed a new chapter in my life, so I decided to come to Arizona and I fell in love with it from Day One. It’s really nice because it gave me a fresh start, dealt with mental clarity and learned more about myself. Once again, coming to play here eases my mind on many things and now I’m ready to go show the world about Banana Ball.”
The Party Animals also have strong ties to the Grand Canyon State.
Balholm, who was a catcher for the Sun Devils, brought his Arizona heritage to the field, adding to the game’s significance for the home crowd.
“It feels so good to be back in Arizona, with so many memories and special occasions,” Balholm said. “I was born here and was even the ball boy for Arizona State when I was a young kid. Few years later, I’m playing for the same team I cheered for when I was a kid. Me and my mom love it here, and it’s great that we’re able to kick off our 2025 tour in the state…”
Lialios, a Tucson native, also found a sense of pride in returning to Arizona to start the tour.
For Lialios, the games were an opportunity to exhibit his love of the game at the location that inspired his career. As he dressed for the Party Animals, it became evident that Arizona would always be a part of his journey, no matter where the tour took him next.
“The biggest thing about being in Arizona is my family,” Lialios said. “It’s special to me to be able to reflect upon the things I’ve done as a baseball player, then being able to suit up to play some Banana Ball. The hardest part is that we travel for a very long time, so most of the time I usually have to tell them stories of what I’ve done, but them being here to witness it makes it so much more surreal.”
Banana Ball is more than just baseball, it gives athletes a chance to interact with the community and show their supporters how passionate they are. Starting the 2025 World Tour in Arizona allowed Kellogg, Krzeminski, Balholm and Lialios to do what they enjoy most in a familiar setting.
It was an opportunity to interact with the supporters who helped them along the way, whether through memories of their time at Arizona State or reflection about their individual paths.
The relationships they made in their home state will serve as a constant reminder of what makes Banana Ball so unique as they travel to Florida for their next game.
“I love it here,” Kellogg said. “This is home and it’s always a blast to come back to reminisce about everything in Arizona.”
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