Savannah Bananas On SI

Tailgaters Turn Up the Heat: Six Standouts Fuel Texas Banana Ball Success

Everything’s bigger in Texas including the swagger the Tailgaters bring to the Banana Ball stage. 

Jacobo Garrido

The Savannah Bananas played the Texas Tailgaters at Great American Ballpark on Friday June 13, 2025. The game included music, dancing, non-baseball games, backflips and featured Reds players like Todd Frazier, Bronson Arroyo and Sean Casey. The Bananas will play the Texas Tailgaters again on Saturday to a packed Great American Ballpark.
The Savannah Bananas played the Texas Tailgaters at Great American Ballpark on Friday June 13, 2025. The game included music, dancing, non-baseball games, backflips and featured Reds players like Todd Frazier, Bronson Arroyo and Sean Casey. The Bananas will play the Texas Tailgaters again on Saturday to a packed Great American Ballpark. / Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TEXAS - With a style as bold as their name, the Texas Tailgaters have been lighting up fields across the country this season thanks to six electrifying players who’ve separated themselves as key performers in baseball’s most entertaining league.

Slugger Mac Danford has been a wrecking crew in cleats, launching three home runs this season and bringing heavy lumber to every plate appearance. Whether it’s a moonshot over the wall or a rocket up the middle, Danford’s power has made him a nightmare for opposing pitchers and a crowd favorite in every stadium.

On the bump, Brett Carson has been mowing down batters with ruthless efficiency. With 11 strikeouts under his belt, Carson has emerged as one of the team’s most dominant arms, using smart pitch selection and a fiery pace to keep hitters off balance in Banana Ball’s fast-paced format.

Right behind him is Christian Davis, who’s also piled up 11 strikeouts this season. Davis brings a high-octane energy to the mound and thrives in pressure situations. When the game tightens up, he’s the guy the Tailgaters trust to close the door.

Jon Reid may not lead the league in Ks, but he’s mastered the art of efficiency with a 1:21 minutes-per-inning average. In a game where speed is everything, Reid’s ability to keep the tempo high and the runs low has made him a quiet workhorse for the Tailgaters' pitching staff.

Defensively, Jordan Hussein has been nothing short of a magician. Racking up 18 trick plays this season, Hussein combines athleticism with creativity, pulling off jaw-dropping catches, impossible flips, and head-turning tags. His highlight reel grows by the week and the fans can’t get enough.

Rounding out the roster of standouts is Nick Lopez, who’s been an absolute machine at the plate. With a scorching .379 batting average, Lopez delivers hit after hit, providing the consistent offense needed to keep the Tailgaters in every game. Whether it’s a clutch RBI or a table-setting single, he’s the engine of the lineup.

Together, these six players have turned the Tailgaters into one of the most balanced and exciting teams in Banana Ball. From big bats to lockdown arms and flashy leather, they’ve got all the ingredients for success and they’re serving it up Texas-style.

More Texas Tailgaters News

feed

Published |Modified
Jacobo Garrido
JACOBO GARRIDO

Jacobo Garrido is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a focus on multimedia and broadcast reporting. During his time at CSULB, he worked as a field reporter for Dig en Español magazine, covering topics impacting the Latino community in Long Beach and surrounding areas. He also reported and produced campus news content, gaining hands-on experience in writing, editing, and on-camera storytelling. After graduating, Jacobo served as the national news correspondent for L28 News for over three years, where he wrote, shot, and edited weekly news segments covering major stories across the country. His experience spans live sports coverage, community profiles, and digital-first storytelling, with a passion for sharing stories that reflect and connect with diverse audiences.

Home/Texas Tailgaters