The start of the 2025 season has brought a ton of new faces to Bananaland, and for the Party Animals, that means the addition of six powerhouses that are excited to contribute to an already dominant roster. 

With a new catcher, utility player, designated runner and three pitchers, it’s looking like this roster is going to be pretty stacked.

Meet the three rookie positional players that are gearing up for the Greatest Party in Sports. 

Andy Cosgrove | C | Kirkland, WA

A new bombshell has entered Bananaland! 

No seriously…

Love Island Australia’s golden boy, Andy Cosgrove, is ready to cause some mischief as a Party Animal in 2025. Seeing him on your TV screen may not be the only reason he looks familiar to you, though. 

Cosgrove may be a new face in Bananaland, but he’s no stranger to Banana Ball. 

As an Aussie Drop Bear, he got to face off against the Bananas. It didn’t take long for the coaching staff in Bananaland to be impressed. Head Coach Mike Vavasis is especially excited to add him to a commanding group of catchers. 

“Playing against the Bananas when he was a Drop Bear,” Vavasis explained, “we saw the talent and energy he brings. He will be catching alongside [Bronson] Balholm this season, with me as our third catcher.” 

Cosgrove had made up his mind that he wanted to be a part of the Savannah Bananas long before he played for the Drop Bears. It was in his second season with Australia’s Surfers Paradise Baseball Club that he had decided Banana Ball was for him. 

“I started trying to figure out how I could get there,” Cosgrove explained. “My coach for my team in Australia was one of the coaches and coordinators for the Drop Bears. I was really lucky that things fell into place and that they had a roster spot available. It worked out perfectly.” 

Cosgrove fell into the Banana Ball way quite seamlessly, and quickly picked up what it meant to play the game made for fans. 

“I think what I’m most excited about is being able to connect with fans,” Cosgrove said. “In my baseball career, you don’t really get much fan interaction and I think that that is some of the most fun you can have in your baseball career.”

The Washington native is eager to bring some excitement to the Party Animals roster. He’s always been comfortable as the outspoken team player, and when he isn’t on the field, he’s sure to be the ultimate clubhouse guy. That’s certainly something that Vavasis is happy to have around. 

“We’re looking for him to make an impact not only on the Banana Ball side, but by also embracing the Party Animals vibes!” Vavasis said. 

Whether you already knew him from the Drop Bears or from his season on Love Island, Cosgrove is happy to be bringing another friendly face to the field. He’s honored to be able to play for an organization that has been “so successful, and that has created something new and such an amazing fanbase.” 

The Party Animals are pretty stoked to have him too. 

Mark Smith | ENT/DR | East Haven, CT

Newcomer Mark Smith is excited to join the wild side as an entertainer and designated runner for the Party Animals. Smith is no stranger to fun. In fact, the Connecticut native showed up to his tryout as his alter-ego, ‘Mark the Shark’, completing the facade with a shark onesie. 

Unfortunately for him, however, we already have one of those. Yes, I’m talking about our insanely talented DJ and PA announcer, Mark Ediss. 

But regardless, the Party Animals are happy to have him. 

Smith’s been a fan of the Savannah Bananas from afar for years now, and even though he was in the midst of completing his collegiate career at Salem University, he couldn’t help but feel as though Banana Ball was something he was supposed to be a part of. 

“I could never really get away from Banana Ball,” Smith explained. “It has always been on my social media across my feeds.” 

The defining moment, however, came one night in June, when he and his family sat around the living room TV and watched the Bananas and Party Animals play against each other at Fenway Park.

 “I was kind of awestruck,” Smith said. “It made me realize that if I’m going to try to do this, I’m going to put my heart into it.”

It was a little harder to get his family behind the idea of Banana Ball. The Smiths were historically baseball traditionalists. They came around pretty quickly though. 

“We would watch games every Friday, Saturday, up until the tryout, and they got very used to the world of Banana Ball,” Smith explained. “It was actually very exciting being able to see all these different characters and people, and them becoming fans of individual players themselves.” 

Back in high school, Smith developed a passion for producing video content. His creativity ran wild as he made various promotional videos for school events and mascots. 

And so here he is now, years later: A Party Animal who’s excited to get back to his creative roots. 

“I’ve always loved to create,” Smith explained. “I love making videos and being on camera, or behind the camera, and the combination of playing baseball, I thought that this was the perfect matchup in terms of searching for a career.” 

He’ll not only be bringing a certain creative flare to the Party Animals but a good bit of speed and agility as well. Upon his arrival, Smith will be making Banana Ball history. 

“Plan to see him running around the bases like a mad man!” Head Coach Mike Vavasis said. “He will be the first ever designated runner only in Party Animals history!” 

Becoming a Party Animal is a dream come true for Smith, and he’s eager to get started. 

“This means the absolute world to me, especially because of how much the league has grown in the past three years,” Smith said. “What they’ve done for the fans, specifically of the sport, is outstanding. I’m really happy to be here and ready to get going.”

Sal Jacobo | UTL | Rogers, AR

Sal Jacobo may be new to Banana Ball but he’s certainly not new to a good time. 

While the utility player from Arkansas is excited to bring some energy to the Party Animals’ infield, he didn’t necessarily think he’d end up here. 

“It wasn’t really on my radar,” Jacobo explained. “I heard about the Bananas in 2022, and I always thought it was cool, that it fit my personality. But, I never thought it was something I could go out and actually do.” 

In fact, after graduating from Southwest Baptist University, he thought he was  done  playing baseball. 

“My college coach had asked me if I was still interested in playing because I was coaching on the side, but I was fully ready to be done with baseball.” 

But when he heard about a tryout in Kansas City, he realized that it was an opportunity he simply couldn’t pass up. 

“I told myself that I’ve got nothing to lose,” Jacobo said. “I was fully ready to hang the cleats up, and then that opportunity was presented, and it just felt like God was opening another door. I feel like I have to walk through this door.” 

And so now he’s here, ready to make an impact as a true utility infielder. He may even have a few trick plays up his sleeve. 

“I’m excited to be able to bring a whole different level of trick plays, and just evolve that aspect of Banana Ball,” Jacobo said. “It’s already at a great spot now, but I want to be part of what makes it better for years to come. I want a behind the back catch to be just routine.” 

Head Coach Mike Vavasis is super excited to see what he’s got in his arsenal, and he’s especially excited to be adding another strong infielder to his roster. 

“Sal brings a lot of versatility to the infield for the Party Animals,” Vavasis said. “He has great energy and positive vibes, and will truly help with his ability to play all around the infield.”

Not only will he have the ability to bring more energy and a new personality to the field, but he’ll also be able to create genuine connections and interactions with Banana Ball fans. That’s something that Jacobo is most excited for. 

“My goal going into 2025 is to make at least one kid smile from something I did,” Jacobo said. 

After once being on the verge of hanging up his cleats forever, Jacobo is pumped to be a part of the Fans First organization. For him, it’s a dream come true for a dream he didn’t even know he had. 

“This means the world,” Jacobo said. “Every young baseball player obviously has the dream of playing professional baseball. Never once did I think of Banana Ball. But, at my tryout, I probably had the most fun on a baseball field that I’ve had since I started baseball. I really fell in love with baseball because of Banana Ball.” 

With less than a month to go until the first Banana Ball game of the season, these new additions are hard at work, preparing for what’s sure to be the most exciting year in Bananaland to date.