The Savannah Bananas were born in Georgia, but at least some of the credit for their explosive growth into a nationwide spectacle must go to a Colorado native.
Zack Frongillo, the Bananas’ director of entertainment, is a Dakota Ridge High School alum who is from Littleton. Frongillo has been with the franchise since 2021, helping Bananas owner Jesse Cole morph the brand from a college summer league team into a baseball craze that sells out stadiums across America.
The Bananas visit Coors Field this weekend for games on Saturday and Sunday, where Banana Ball will make its Colorado debut. Banana Ball is a fast-paced, dance-filled version of baseball with unique rules, trick plays, outlandish celebrations and fans’ ability to become part of the action by catching foul balls for outs.
While Cole is the frontman, Frongillo is the brains behind many of the Bananas’ viral moments over the past few years. He writes the scripts, helps choreograph the dancing, and produces all of the Bananas’ shows.
“From the idea creation to the execution to rehearsing it with the players to seeing it live, that’s my world,” Frongillo said. “All of the music, the announcements, the special guests — my role is how to filter all of that into the game where it’s natural.”
Frongillo played baseball growing up in Jefferson County and at Dakota Ridge before going to UNLV to study dance. While a college student, the 28-year-old was involved in various dance companies, including the Seoul Ballet Theatre in South Korea. After graduating from UNLV, he worked for the Vegas Golden Knights on their promotions and ice crew team.
All of that led Cole to headhunt Frongillo in ’21 to take over the Bananas’ ambitious plans to transition from a traditional team into a baseball bonanza. Frongillo also heads up the entertainment for the franchise’s other three teams: the Firefighters, Tailgaters and Party Animals.
“Landing with the Bananas was the perfect accumulation of everything that I had done in my life, from being a baseball player growing up, to the dance world, to my professional world and my sports entertainment experience,” Frongillo said. “All three of those things came together in a perfect concoction for my current role.”
In addition to Frongillo’s local ties, this weekend’s action at Coors Field will also feature a Rockies connection.
Bananas first baseman/pitcher Correlle Prime is a former Rockies minor leaguer. Colorado selected Prime in the 12th round in 2012, and he played six seasons in the organization, topping out at Double-A Hartford in 2017. His highlight came in 2014, when he raked in Low-A Asheville with a .291 average and career-high 21 homers to earn MiLB.com all-star status.
Prime says he’s excited for the payoff of finally getting his moment at Coors Field. He maintains ties to the organization, including a close friendship with the recently traded Ryan McMahon (Prime was a groomsman in the third baseman’s wedding). Prime is in his second year with the Bananas.
“It’s cool to have been in the game as long as I have and end up at this point,” Prime said. “I’m getting in front of as many eyes as I could want, showing the value I can provide as a ballplayer on the field, entertainment-wise. Getting that (exposure) now is the most rewarding part.
“It’ll obviously be a little different feeling this weekend (than making a Rockies debut), but I’m excited. I know the energy is going to be great. … And for me, Banana Ball has kicked in a whole new side of competitiveness in me.”
In addition to Prime’s LoDo debut, this weekend’s games will feature a few notable guest appearances. Frongillo hinted that “a couple of Colorado sports legends” will be participating in the show, as well as a notable musician.
Saturday’s show begins at 7 p.m., and Sunday’s is at 3:30 p.m.. The “Before The Peel” pregame show will be held two hours before each game along Blake Street on the east side of the stadium. Frongillo anticipates a festive environment.
“I’m excited to see that stadium just light up yellow,” Frongillo said. “I was able to go to games in 2007 when that stadium was rocking, and I remember all those games that September when the Rockies just caught fire (to make the playoffs). Being around that team and seeing that place so loud in front of a sold-out crowd, I’m excited to see it like that again.”
There are 12 more stops on the Bananas’ tour after Coors Field, as it concludes on Sept. 27 in Houston. The franchise will add two additional teams next year in addition to launching the Banana Ball Championship League, which will be a competitive, barnstorming circuit featuring the franchise’s six teams.
Frongillo believes the frenzy over Banana Ball is “just in the first inning.”
“I don’t see us slowing down,” Frongillo said. “I can see in two, three years all of our teams selling out stadiums across the country in pursuit of that league championship.”
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