Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc.

08/11/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/11/2026 05:48

From PBA to MLB Stadiums: Daniel Foster Finds His Stage in Banana Ball

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Daniel Foster's journey from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) to the national stage didn't follow the typical script. After four years on the mound for the Sailfish men's baseball team and graduating in 2025, he chased professional baseball with the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League before finding an unlikely home in one of the sport's most electric environments: Banana Ball.

Designed to eliminate downtime, it features an 11-rule system that speeds up play and incorporates choreography, dance breaks, and trick plays. This fun spin-off of baseball was created by the Savannah Bananas.

Now pitching for the Indianapolis Clowns, Foster is part of a phenomenon that packs stadiums with fans eager for fast-paced action and nonstop entertainment.

After returning home from pitching in Billings, he faced a crossroads, wondering whether he would continue playing. About three weeks later, an unexpected call changed everything.

Trying Something New

"Someone from the organization messaged me about Banana Ball," Foster said. "He said, 'We're opening up two new teams and we would love to offer you a tryout spot.'"

Out of 2,500 applicants, only 300 received invitations, and Foster was one of them. At first, he didn't know what to make of Banana Ball.

"I thought it was scripted for the longest time," he admitted. "But when I found out that it was this competitive version of baseball, that's when I was like, 'OK, I wanna try and give this a shot.'"

His perception changed quickly-the competitive drive surprising him the most.

"These guys are true ballplayers," Foster said. "They're not just out there having a good time and trying to be funny. They're actually trying to hit home runs, play good defense, and all that kind of stuff."

On the Clowns' roster, nearly every player has professional experience. One of those teammates is former MLB outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who was the first overall draft pick for the Clowns following an 11-year career in the major leagues.

Embracing the Show

Banana Ball isn't just baseball, it's a show. For Foster, that meant trying something new: dancing.

Over time, he found his place. "Everybody has a role in the entertainment," he said. "But a lot of my job is to pitch here. My entertainment value comes from the pitcher's mound. I want to work as quickly as I possibly can and put on a show by getting ground balls and striking guys out."

The league's unique rules play into his strengths. "It's a literal stat-minutes per inning," Foster said. "The three things they want are [to] throw strikes, work fast, and be entertaining. If you can do one and two, number three will take care of itself."

Faith at the Center

Foster's foundation was built at PBA, where he began playing as a freshman. "My baseball career would have ended in high school if Coach [Kent] Bottenfield didn't give me a chance to walk on," he said. "A lot of what Bott taught me was how to be a good-charactered human being and a faithful follower of Christ."

That faith remains central to Foster's life and career.

"To represent Christ is not just a part of it, it's all of it," Foster said. "My purpose here is not to throw a ball. My purpose here is to get in front of a stage that is large and display the fruits of the Spirit and display Christ."

Looking Ahead

Foster's goals are simple and profound. "I just want to be a guy that people can trust," he said. "A guy that my coach can trust to get outs, a teammate that my teammates can trust to come to for advice or spiritual guidance, and a guy that the fans can trust is going to give them a life-giving experience when they come to a Banana Ball game."

His advice to current Sailfish is straightforward.

"Don't count yourself out," Foster said. "Continue to bet on yourself. Continue to trust that God is going to get you exactly where He wants you."

For more information about PBA Athletics, visit: pbasailfish.com

Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc. published this content on August 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 11, 2026 at 11:48 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]