Jackson Olson
| Jackson Olson | |
|---|---|
| Savannah Bananas – No. 8 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: October 6, 1997 New Milford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| Banana Ball (BBCL) debut | |
| 2022, for the Savannah Bananas | |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Jackson Daniel Olson (born October 6, 1997) is an American baseball player, entertainer, and social media personality. He is best known as a second baseman for the Savannah Bananas, a barnstorming exhibition baseball team. Olson had over 1.5 million followers on TikTok and 409,000 on Instagram as of 2023. [1]
Early life and education
[edit]Olson was born and raised in New Milford, Connecticut, where he attended New Milford High School. He was a three-sport athlete, participating in baseball, football, and basketball. As a senior, he batted .464 with 23 RBIs and 14 extra-base hits, leading his team to the 2016 conference championship game and the Class LL state semifinals. He earned First Team Class LL All-State honors and was named to the Connecticut Hearst Media Super 15 All-Star team. [2]
Olson began his collegiate baseball career at the University of Hartford, where he played for four seasons. During his tenure, he appeared in 161 games, posting a .288 career batting average. He was a key contributor to the 2018 team that captured the America East Championship for the first time in program history. Academically, Olson was a three-time America East All-Academic Team member, earned America East Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades, and was named the 2020 America East Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. [1]
After completing his undergraduate studies, Olson pursued a master of business administration at Stetson University, where he also played for the Hatters baseball team during the 2021 season. [2]
Career
[edit]Savannah Bananas
[edit]In 2022, Olson joined the Savannah Bananas. Olson has been featured in various media outlets highlighting "Banana Ball", which combines traditional baseball with entertainment elements like choreographed dances and fan interaction.[3][4]
Dancing with the Stars
[edit]On May 12, 2026, Olson was announced to be joining the Dancing with the Stars cast for season thirty-five.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Olson resides in Savannah, Georgia. In April 2026, he announced on his Instagram account that he was dating Maggie Sajak.[6]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| † | Denotes television productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Dancing with the Stars † | Season 35; Contestant | [5] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Jackson D. Olson '20". University of Hartford. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- 1 2 "Jackson Olson - Baseball - Stetson University Athletics". Stetson University Athletics. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Savannah Bananas bring new life to baseball, dancing and playing by their own rules". CBS News. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Jackson Olson returns to his home state as a Savannah Banana". FOX61. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- 1 2 Shanfeld, Ethan (May 12, 2026). "Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Adds Savannah Bananas Player; Disney+ to Stream Live Banana Bowl Game". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
- ↑ Craighead, Olivia (April 22, 2026). "A Savannah Banana Is Dating Pat Sajak's Daughter". The Cut. Retrieved May 7, 2026.