John Cena goes to bat in Tampa for Savannah Bananas baseball team
Hollywood top banana and Pasco County resident John Cena surprised the crowd at a sold-out Savannah Bananas game in Tampa on Saturday by stepping up to the plate in full yellow finery.
The WWE wrestler and “Barbie” actor walked out of the dugout at George Steinbrenner Field to his theme song “My Time Is Now,” wearing the same uniform as the hugely popular comic baseball team. The 16-time world heavyweight champion raised a championship belt to the crowd before stepping up to the plate.
He started with an unusual batting stance, holding the bat high over his head. He then tried to draw a walk by squatting down low. But the umpire called three strikes, and Cena was out.
Cena then ran toward the mound, but rather than protest the call, he congratulated the pitcher, raising the other player’s hand as the crowd cheered.
Cena later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the chance to be a Savannah Banana for a day “sounded appealing but these guys kick some serious potassium!!! Grateful for an incredible and unforgettable experience!”
Cena had “Stanicky” written on the back of his jersey, a nod to his upcoming film “Ricky Stanicky,” the Peter Farrelly-directed comedy starring Zac Efron that will be streaming on Amazon Prime starting March 7.
The Savannah Bananas are likened to the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball by adding theatrics, dancing and comedy to America’s pastime. They kicked off their 2024 tour in Tampa with sold-out shows Thursday through Saturday. The team is so popular, tickets were put into a lottery two months before their visit to Tampa.
