Play Ball! Banana Ball, That Is.

Standout URI pitcher Trystan Levesque ’25 has a new team now, and they’re totally Bananas.

Trystan Levesque ’25 was all business as a starting pitcher for the URI baseball team. His laser focus contributed to his success and to the Rams’ earning a trip to the 2025 NCAA Baseball Championship.

Six months after throwing his last pitch for URI, Levesque was drafted by the Savannah Bananas, one of six teams in the Banana Ball Championship League, an exhibition league focused on fun, entertainment, and fan participation.

“I took my baseball journey through college seriously, and I will continue to do the same for the Savannah Bananas,” says Levesque. “I had to learn to be all business and serious about my craft, just as I will learn to be outgoing and create humor for the fans of Banana Ball.”

Banana Ball attracts sellout crowds all over the country by using dancing, music, props, stunts, and tomfoolery to make baseball a fun, memorable experience for fans. The league was formed in 2020 when the Bananas played the first official game under “Banana Ball” rules.

Levesque attended a Banana Ball tryout in Philadelphia after being contacted by the Bananas’ director of recruiting, Berry Aldridge. But he was still surprised when his name was called in the draft.

“I was watching the draft with family and friends at a restaurant and had no idea I was being drafted prior to the selection,” says Levesque. “When my name popped up on the bottom of the screen, we all erupted with excitement.”

Raphael Cerrato, URI baseball head coach says, “When Trystan was selected in the draft, we were very excited. The Bananas are the most popular team in the league, which means Trystan will get to play in the best and largest venues.”

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The past two years have been an emotional roller coaster for Levesque. After playing the second game of his senior year in 2024, he was sidelined by a hamstring injury for the rest of the season.

In 2025, after graduating from URI with a degree in public health and a minor in psychology, Levesque returned to the baseball team as a graduate student. Pitching stronger than ever, Levesque established a program record by starting 16 games on the mound. An 8-2 record, 3.49 earned run average, and 95 strikeouts earned him Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors.

Levesque’s stellar play continued in the postseason. In the A-10 Championship game, he led the Rams to victory, pitching 8.1 innings and striking out 10 batters.

“That was bittersweet because it was my first year back from injury and my last year of eligibility,” says Levesque. “After winning that game, it felt like all the hard work I put in to get back was worth it. I was very emotional to see my parents after the game because they saw the hard work I put in, and they were so proud of me.”

Levesque finished his URI career as the program’s leader in career starts (52), second in career wins (24), second in strikeouts (310), and third in innings pitched (306.2).

“I think Trystan will be remembered as one of the top three or four pitchers in Rhody baseball history,” says Cerrato. “He is one of the smartest and hardest workers I have ever coached.”

Levesque, who has long-term plans to attend chiropractic school, began training with the Bananas in Savannah, Ga., on Jan. 15. “I was registered for classes in January, but with this amazing opportunity to play baseball for the Bananas, chiropractic school will be put on hold,” he says.

In February, about a month into his post with the Bananas, Levesque was a guest on the College Baseball Show podcast. Of his experience so far, he said, “Banana Ball is about bringing the love back to baseball—fans first, always,” adding, “This is literally a dream come true. I get to keep playing baseball and compete.”

—Neil Nachbar

Photo: Courtesy Trystan Levesque