Fractured wrist sidelines Redlands’ contribution to Banana Ball

SAN DIEGO – Talk about your bad breaks.

The Savannah Bananas’ popular Robert Anthony Cruz – known as “Coach RAC” to his many social media followers – expected about 75 friends and family members to show up Saturday at Petco Park to watch him play.

The Bananas are a sensation that has swept the country, filling major league ballparks with yellow-garbed fans who are there to see their unique blend of baseball, synchronized dancing, trick plays, and merriment. It’s Harlem Globetrotters meet Abner Doubleday and Cruz is all in.

“Jesse Cole (the founder of Banana Ball) insists that everything is fans first,” Cruz said via a Zoom interview with CommunityForwardRedlands.com last week. “It’s embraced by everyone whether they are ticket sellers or playing.”

Except that Cruz – who was born in Fontana and played baseball at Arrowhead Christian Academy in Redlands – was missing on Saturday morning before the Bananas played the Firefighters at Petco Park.

“I think he has an appointment,” said Bananas’ player Ryan Kellogg from the team’s dugout.

About three hours later, Cruz relayed the bad news to his peeps.

‘STUFF HAPPENS’

“OK guys, for those of you wondering, I am likely out for the season,” Cruz said via Instagram. “It happened (Friday). I didn’t realize it was this serious. It happened before the game. I just fell on it. Stuff happens. I thought it was OK – I took some swings before the game and I thought, ‘Ah, it doesn’t feel great but I’m gonna play anyway because my family is in town and we’re at Petco Park and I’ve always
wanted to play there …"

Cruz is one of the stars of Banana Ball – a zany take on baseball that allows no stepping out of the batter’s box or bunting or conventional walks, but encourages between-the-legs throws, backflip catches (Cruz’s specialty), and choreographed dancing whenever possible.

There is even a bloke who plays on stilts. P.T. Barnum would be proud.

Wrote baseball pundit Tim Kirkjian of MLB, “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. I loved it.”

Eventually Cruz found his way to Petco on Saturday night and – despite a cast on his arm – served as the team’s unofficial photographer.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Cruz, 26, was largely homeschooled as a kid and his first love was gymnastics. But by 9 years old he switched to baseball.

“When I was 14, I played in an all-star tournament in the city of Redlands,” Cruz said. “We went 0-2 and it was over pretty quick. But a coach said to me, ‘You know what, if you want to play this game at the next level, I think you’ve got a chance.’”

Cruz starred at Arrowhead Christian under coach Kip Gross, then played at Biola College and UC Riverside before getting drafted by the Washington Nationals.

Video of Cruz with his father signing his Nationals’ contract went viral.

But there was no fairytale ending for Cruz in organized baseball. He played just one season. Before long he and his wife lived about a mile from State Street in downtown Redlands and were trying to make ends meet.

“We would take about a mile walk to A La Minute Ice Cream,” Cruz said. “That was a big part of my daily routine, and I’d always wind up getting the largest size. I was always able to finish it. That is something I’m missing tremendously, now that I’m in Savannah.”

Small price to pay. Three years to the day after Cruz signed with the Nationals, he found himself in canary yellow Savanna Banana togs, jacking a home run out the Nationals’ ballpark.

“It was pretty cool,” Cruz said.

RESTLESS

Married (Giovanna Nicole) and able to make money via social media, endorsements, and his Banana Ball salary, Robert Anthony Cruz is sitting pretty.

Now he just needs to let that smashed left arm heal.

“I really wish I could play,” Cruz said via IG. “If you guys have any ideas of things I could do during the game now that I can’t play, then let me know.”

Reach John Murphy at berdooman@gmail.com and follow at @PrepDawg2.