About Jackson Olson
Jackson Olson is the Savannah Bananas' second baseman and, by follower count, the most-watched player in Banana Ball. Born October 6, 1997, in New Milford, Connecticut, he was a three-sport athlete at New Milford High School and hit .464 with 23 RBI as a senior.
Olson played four seasons at the University of Hartford (2016–2020), appearing in 161 games with a .288 average and helping the Hawks win the America East championship for the first time in program history in 2018. He finished his college career with a graduate season at Stetson in 2021 while working on his MBA. At Hartford he also collected multiple academic honors and graduated with a business administration degree, and his father worked for Rawlings, which is part of why a September series at Yankee Stadium meant so much to a kid who grew up a Yankees fan.
He came to Savannah in 2022 for what was supposed to be a six-game stint and never left. His musical-theater background made him a natural for the Bananas' choreography, and his "Greatest Showman" routine — a dance number built around the movie — became one of the team's signature bits. Owner Jesse Cole has credited Olson's mix of real infield ability and on-camera charisma as the reason the team kept him around.
Off the field his profile has grown with the league: WME signed him as a client in 2025, and in May 2026 he was announced as a contestant on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Hailey Bills. On the field he remains Savannah's everyday second baseman, wearing No. 8. His live 2026 stat line is above; the full player stats table shows how he compares with the rest of the league.
Jackson's career highlights
- 161 games and a .288 average in four seasons at Hartford; 2018 America East champion
- Graduate season at Stetson University in 2021
- Joined the Savannah Bananas in 2022 on a six-game deal that became a full-time role
- Known as "The Greatest Showman" for his theater-inspired dance routine
- Signed by WME in 2025; cast on Dancing with the Stars Season 35 in May 2026
Sources: en.wikipedia.org , si.com , variety.com , hartfordhawks.com . Stats above are updated automatically from the official Banana Ball stats feed.