You might say that 2022 Columbus State University Turner College of Business graduate David (DR) Meadows is still “going bananas” over baseball. Not only is the former CSU third baseman playing for the fun-filled Savannah Bananas, but a recent outfield diving catch garnered the attention of baseball fans around the world.

Meadows wasn’t supposed to start playing for the Bananas until the fall for the Banana Ball World Series, but Berry Aldridge, the Bananas’ baseball operations coordinator, called up Meadows for the second half of the team’s College Professional League season during the summer.

Meadows enjoys playing with the Bananas because of the team’s ever-growing fan base and the overall entertaining atmosphere that is present at every game in Savannah.

“My favorite part of playing with the Bananas is definitely their fan base and the opportunity to just be myself as a player,” Meadows stated. “We have a lot of different players from around the country who are unique and we just play well together as a group, but the fans that show up every day are awesome to be around. It’s great making a kid's day because I was once that kid watching.”

Unlike NCAA baseball, the Bananas are not seen as a “typical” baseball team as fans primarily go to its games for comedy, silliness and amusement. Known as “The Greatest Show in Sports” around the nation, the Bananas are different from other teams because, as their team motto states, they “take chances, toe the line, test the rules and challenge the way things are supposed to be.”

“The big difference in playing with the Bananas and CSU is adjusting to the Banana Ball rules and creating that family bond with guys I’ve never met before,” Meadows mentioned. “At CSU, we were all brothers playing with each other each year, and those bonds were already established.”

The Bananas were recently featured on ESPN+ during a matchup with the Party Animals. Meadows started that game in centerfield and without knowing it, was spotlighted on ESPN with an unbelievable diving catch in the first inning. Not subject to the typical decorum of competitive baseball, Banana Ball rules permitted the team to storm the field in celebration to congratulate Meadows. The catch was so thrilling that ESPN’s tweet tallied over 219,000 views.  

“Being on ESPN is like a dream come true for me and happening to make a pretty good catch just made it even better,” he recalled. “Even though I got roasted in the comments for the ‘griddy,’ it’s still awesome to have that moment forever."

The Bananas have shared numerous social media posts featuring Meadows, whether it be diving catches, "sledding” down the grandstand, double plays, hitting walk-offs, stealing second base and dapping up the other team, or doing a backflip into home plate.

Even though Meadows is having a ball playing for the Bananas, he still reminisces on the success the Cougars achieved throughout this career, as well as the friendships he created during his time in Columbus.

“The group we had at CSU was a special group through my years there because I met some of my best friends in life,” he said. “Winning the conference championship with the squad was my favorite memory and just bonding with the guys at the pool was fun. Also, my coaches at CSU have been my favorite coaches I’ve ever played for through my years in baseball and I can’t wait to see those guys again.”

CSU’s head baseball coach, Greg Appleton, thinks that the opportunity to play for the Bananas is perfect for Meadows.

“David has always loved to play baseball and compete—it was just fun for him,” Appleton commented. “Now, with the Bananas, he gets to play ball, have fun and show off all at the same time. It’s a perfect world for him.”

The Vidalia, Ga., native played three seasons for the Cougars, graduating with a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing in May 2022. Meadows played in 121 total games for CSU and helped the team make two deep runs in the NCAA DII national tournament. He posted an overall .326 batting average, a .407 slugging percentage, and a .421 on-base percentage while tallying 157 hits. He legged out  24 doubles and three triples to go along with three home runs, 79 RBIs and 122 runs scored. The former starting third baseman for CSU recorded an impressive .939 fielding percentage throughout his career and was known as one of the best defenders in the nation.

After the fall series with the Bananas, Meadows plans to hopefully get the opportunity to play for the team next year and to go on the tour with them. Otherwise, he mentioned he will search for a baseball-related job so he can pass his knowledge down to younger athletes.