This Savannah Bananas Star Will Get You in The Feels

Published: September 1, 2025

By Mallory Mattingly

Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson reflected on how his dad inspired his love of baseball, posting a heartfelt video about playing catch with his father through the years.

“Hey, Dad, can we play catch?” Olson asked as his 8-year-old self.

“Yeah, buddy, grab our gloves,” his dad replied.

Flash forward four years, Olson asked again, “Hey, Dad, when you get home, can we play catch?”

“I won’t be home until later tonight, sorry, Jackson,” his dad answered.

“Well, can we play later then?” he asked.

“Yeah, we can. We’ll turn the driveway lights on,” his dad said.

Then Olson shared a moment between him and his father right before he left for college when his dad reminded him to pack his glove.

Then, at 23-years old, Olson’s father asked, “Wanna play catch?”

“I have some stuff to do, but maybe later,” he responded.

The video jumped to Olson three weeks later as he doubted his future in baseball.

“Dad, I don’t know what to do anymore,” Olson said.

“There are a bunch of other places you can still play baseball,” his dad replied.

“I just don’t even know if I want to play baseball anymore,” Olson revealed.

But he kept playing, and the video ended with a sweet, full-circle moment with his dad as the two played catch at Fenway Park, one of the most iconic baseball fields.

Swooon reported that Olson played one season with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the Cape Cod League after his junior year in college. The Arizona Diamondbacks then offered him a MLB contract which he turned down to play his senior year in the hopes of getting drafted. When COVID hit, all those plans went out the window.

But he eventually found himself with the Bananas, and after the team visited Disney in May, he was reminded that everything worked out.

“Walt Disney always talked about pursuing your dreams. But after my baseball career ended 3 years ago, I didn’t have one to pursue. I was so stubborn that I delivered groceries so I could avoid getting a real job,” Olson wrote in a post on Instagram. “I didn’t have a purpose and didn’t think I’d ever have one again.”

“But over the last couple of years, that purpose has made itself way more evident in my life,” he continued. “And yesterday was a day that proved it. I wish 23-year-old Jackson could see what we did yesterday. To see the smiles we created and the memories we made for the fans, but also ourselves, was truly special.

“So thank you @disneyparks and @disney for making our dreams come true,” he added. And to you guys reading this, if you haven’t found your purpose yet, don’t give up. And most importantly, when a new dream calls… always answer.”