You’ve seen the yellow jerseys. You’ve seen the backflip catches and the stilts. But if you’ve actually sat in the stands at Grayson Stadium or watched a viral clip on TikTok, you’ve probably heard a voice that sounds less like a standard stadium announcer and more like a soul singer leading a revival. That’s KJ Scriven, the Director of Music and Entertainment for the Savannah Bananas.
He isn't just "the guy with the mic." Honestly, calling him an announcer is a massive understatement. In the world of Banana Ball, where the rules are fast and the entertainment is constant, KJ is basically the heartbeat of the entire production. He’s the one making sure the vibe never drops, even when the players are transitioning between a scoring play and a mid-inning dance routine.
Why KJ Scriven is the Secret Sauce of Banana Ball
Most baseball games have a "sound guy." You know the type—they hit play on "Cotton Eye Joe" during the seventh-inning stretch and maybe announce a pinch hitter with all the enthusiasm of a DMV employee. KJ is the polar opposite. He’s a multi-Grammy-winning songwriter and artist who somehow ended up at the center of the most chaotic show in sports. It's weird, right? You don't usually see someone with that kind of musical pedigree working a ballpark.
But that's exactly why it works.
KJ brings a level of professional musicality that most sports teams can't touch. When the Savannah Bananas do their choreographed dances, it isn't just random luck that the music hits perfectly. KJ is orchestrating that flow. He understands rhythm, tempo, and crowd psychology. If the energy in the stadium dips for even a second, he knows exactly what note to hit—literally—to bring it back.
The guy has a way of connecting. He's often seen right in the thick of it, singing live or hyping up the "VIB Man" (Very Important Banana) of the night. It’s a specialized role that blends the duties of a DJ, a master of ceremonies, and a front-man for a rock band. Without him, the "World’s Most Entertaining Game" would just be a bunch of guys in yellow pants playing ball.
From Grammy Stages to the Yellow Tuxedo
Before he was a staple of the Savannah Bananas circuit, KJ Scriven was already a big deal in the music industry. We’re talking about a guy who has worked with some of the biggest names in gospel and contemporary music. He’s a celebrated songwriter with a deep background in ministry and performance.
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So, how does a guy with a Grammy on his shelf end up in Savannah?
It started with a connection to Jesse Cole, the guy who owns the team (and the guy who is always in the yellow tuxedo). Jesse is obsessed with "fans first" entertainment. He realized early on that if he wanted the Bananas to feel like a Broadway show on a baseball field, he needed a world-class entertainer to run the soundscape. KJ wasn't just a hire; he was a strategic shift in how the team approached their identity.
He didn't just show up and read a script. He helped build the "Banana Ball" atmosphere from the ground up. He’s often credited with helping curate the specific "walk-up" songs and the viral moments that make the team so shareable on social media. It’s about the "drop." You know that moment in a song where everyone loses their mind? KJ creates those moments for three hours straight every single night.
The Physicality of Being KJ
People forget how exhausting his job is. While the players are on the field, KJ is on his feet, often moving through the stands, singing, dancing, and managing the audio cues. It’s a high-wire act. If he misses a cue, a joke fails. If the music is too loud, the crowd can't hear the umpire’s call (which, in Banana Ball, is usually something ridiculous anyway).
He’s basically an athlete of the voice and the vibe.
What Makes His Style Unique?
- Live Vocals: Unlike other stadiums that just play MP3s, KJ will often belt out a chorus live. It changes the atmosphere instantly.
- Improvisation: In Banana Ball, anything can happen. A fan might run on the field, or a player might start a spontaneous dance-off. KJ has to react in milliseconds.
- The "Preach" Factor: Because of his background in the church, he has this natural "call and response" ability. He doesn't just talk at the fans; he talks with them.
Handling the Pressure of Viral Fame
The Savannah Bananas are a juggernaut. Every game is sold out. Every move is filmed for millions of followers. For KJ Scriven, that means there is zero room for a bad night. If he’s off his game, the whole show feels "stiff."
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Fans who follow him on social media see the behind-the-scenes grind. It’s not just the three hours of the game. It’s the hours of rehearsal, the meetings about new skits, and the travel. The Bananas tour like a circus or a rock band, hitting different cities every week. That kind of schedule is brutal on a performer's voice and mental energy.
Yet, he stays remarkably grounded. He often talks about the joy of seeing families connect at the games. For him, it’s clearly about more than just the music; it’s about the community that Jesse Cole has built in Savannah and beyond. He’s become a face of the franchise, right alongside players like Dakota "Stilts" Albritton or the "Cowboy" catcher.
Misconceptions About the Role
One thing people get wrong? They think KJ is just playing a character.
Actually, if you talk to people around the organization, they’ll tell you that what you see on the mic is pretty much just who KJ is. There isn't a "switch" he flips. He’s genuinely that high-energy, genuinely that talented, and genuinely invested in the fans.
Another misconception is that the music is secondary. In reality, in Banana Ball, the music is the game. The "Golden Batter" walk-up or the "Celebration" after a home run are the pillars of the experience. KJ is essentially the director of the movie, and the music is the score that tells the audience how to feel.
The Evolution of the Director of Entertainment
As the Bananas continue to grow—now playing in MLB stadiums like Fenway Park and Nationals Park—KJ’s role has had to scale up. Playing to 4,000 people in Savannah is one thing. Controlling the energy of 35,000 people in a massive professional stadium is another beast entirely.
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He’s had to adapt his "sound" to fit these larger spaces. The acoustics are different, the crowd delay is real, and the stakes are significantly higher. But he’s handled it with the poise of a guy who has been on big stages his entire life. He’s proven that the Banana Ball magic isn't just a small-town gimmick; it’s a legitimate entertainment format that can fill the biggest venues in the country.
Actionable Takeaways from the KJ Scriven Playbook
Whether you're a creator, a business owner, or just a fan, there’s actually a lot to learn from how KJ handles his role with the Savannah Bananas. It’s about more than just being loud; it’s about intentionality.
- Master the Transition: In any presentation or "show," the gaps are where you lose people. KJ fills the gaps. Don't let your "dead air" kill your momentum.
- Know Your Audience: KJ doesn't play the same setlist for every crowd. He reads the room. If it's a younger crowd, the music shifts. If it's an older, more traditional crowd, he leans into the classics.
- Energy is Contagious: You can't ask an audience to be excited if you aren't the most excited person in the building. KJ leads by example.
- Invest in Quality: The Bananas could have hired a cheap announcer. By hiring a Grammy-level talent, they signaled that the "show" was just as important as the sport.
If you’re heading to a game soon, keep your eyes on the area near the home dugout or the sound booth. You’ll see him there, likely with a headset on and a microphone in hand, probably dancing a little bit while he cues up the next track. That’s the engine room of the whole operation.
To really understand the impact he has, you have to look at the fans. When KJ starts a chant or hits a high note, and several thousand people respond in unison, you realize this isn't just baseball. It’s a performance. And KJ Scriven is the undisputed lead.
Next time you see a highlight, don't just watch the play. Listen to the background. Listen to the timing. You’ll hear a pro at work, turning a simple ball game into an unforgettable event.
Next Steps for Fans and Creators:
- Observe the "Vibe Shift": Watch a full Bananas broadcast and pay attention to how the music changes when a player is struggling versus when they are winning. It's a masterclass in emotional management.
- Follow the Source: Keep up with KJ’s personal projects outside of the stadium; his songwriting work provides deep context into why he’s so effective at storytelling through sound.
- Attend a Live Tour Date: No video does justice to the actual decibel level and "weight" of the entertainment KJ provides in person.