Savannah Bananas owner addresses death threats after player draft

Savannah Bananas owner addresses death threats after player draft

Savannah Bananas owner addresses death threats after player draft

Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole is responding to a week of backlash following the organization's Banana Ball player draft, acknowledging fan disappointment, outlining plans for players who weren't selected and revealing he received death threats.

In a nearly 17-minute video posted Friday, Cole said the past week had been difficult for fans, players and the organization.

He said he understands the frustration from fans who were upset to see familiar players left off the roster.

But Cole also defended the draft, saying it was intended to make the league more competitive and bring in new talent.

Why the Savannah Bananas changed the draft

Cole said the organization introduced the draft system after seeing a lack of competition among its teams in 2025.

He said one team had the worst winning percentage in the history of professional baseball, prompting the organization to look for ways to create more competitive rosters.

Cole said the changes worked on the field, with every team having a chance to make the playoffs during the final weekend of the season.

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