SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Bananas and their affiliate teams have announced their upcoming rosters and former UMass Dartmouth student-athlete Nate Tellier has officially signed to join The Party Animals – the rival to the Savannah Bananas - on the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. The former pitcher/outfielder for the Corsairs will make his debut when the new "world tour" begins on February 1, 2025.
"Nate Tellier is the model for what UMass Dartmouth Baseball exemplifies; hardworking, dedicated, talented, excellent student and most importantly always putting the greater good of the team and his teammates in the forefront," said
Bob Prince, UMass Dartmouth head baseball coach. "He was a joy to Coach, and I couldn't be happier for him and his family."
Tellier, who hails from Attleboro, Mass., played for the Corsairs from 2016 through 2020 when his collegiate career was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a two-way threat over the course of his career, earning All-Little East Conference and ABCA All-Region accolades as both an outfielder and pitcher.
A 2020 CSC Academic All-District selection, Tellier transformed a powerful fastball and a devastating slider into the closer's role for the Corsairs over his last two collegiate campaigns, as he recorded eight saves in 15 appearances as a junior in 2019 with a 1.80 earned run average to go with 41 strikeouts (12.72 per nine) in 29 innings pitched.
That dominance on the mound transferred to the plate as Tellier collected 187 hits that included 39 doubles, seven triples, nine homers, 111 runs scored, 65 stolen bases and 91 RBI over 134 games played. He sported a .342 career batting average to go with a .408 on-base percentage and a .489 slugging percentage.
Tellier helped the Corsairs to a number of successes during his career as the squad advanced to the Little East tournament title game both in 2017 and 2019. His remarkable numbers were cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic that saw him belt out 19 hits in 10 contests in 2020 while helping guide the Corsairs to their best start (9-1) in a quarter century and a spot among teams receiving national ranking consideration by D3baseball.com.
Tellier played for several local squads as well during his time as a Corsair. In2019, he earned a trip to the New England Collegiate Baseball League's all-star game after recording five saves and 34 strikeouts in 15 appearances (16 2/3 innings pitched). He then joined the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England, and along with three saves and 19 strikeouts in 11 1/3 frames, Tellier also picked up a snapping breaking ball to add to his repertoire. The combination of his three pitches caught the eye of the Red Sox as the summer went along.
Tellier was signed to a three-year free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox in September of that year. He played three seasons with several teams in the High A Affiliate. On the mound, he was 9-5 overall, appearing in 72 games. In 100.2 innings pitched, he allowed 73 runs (64 earned) on 84 hits. Posting a 5.72 ERA, Tellier struck out 135 batters, allowing just 77 walks with a 1.60 WHIP.
The Savannah Bananas were founded in 2016, playing at Grayson Stadium since the inaugural season. Until 2022, the Bananas competed as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, but the continued growth of their alternate "Banana Ball" format, has seen the team transition entirely to exhibition games against their partner touring teams, The Party Animals – for whom Tellier will play for, the Firefighters and the Texas Tailgaters.
The Bananas and their rival teams have sold out countless MLB stadiums and appeared on ESPN and TruTV since 2021. Banana Ball is comprised of 11 rules. The Party Animals made their debut in 2020 with a traditional game against the Bananas. In 2021, Banana Ball went on the road for the first time as the Bananas and Party Animals squared off and continue to be rivals to this day – including a win by the Party Animals in the 2023 World Tour.
The Savannah Bananas and The Party Animals open the 2025 World Tour on February 1 in Mesa, Arizona. The four teams will visit 18 Major League Baseball stadiums (over the course of the season, while also playing in three football stadiums.
Clemson's Memorial Stadium, Tennessee Titans' Nissan Stadium and the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium will serve as the host football stadiums, while The Bananas will also play two games each in the home ballparks of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins.
