Jackson Olson on Dancing with the Stars Season 35

Jackson Olson is moving from Banana Ball’s infield to one of television’s biggest dance floors. ABC announced the Savannah Bananas second baseman and social-media personality as a celebrity contestant for Season 35 of “Dancing with the Stars”, and Olson discussed the opportunity on “Good Morning America” on May 13, 2026.

For Banana Ball, the story is bigger than a celebrity casting note. Olson represents the type of athlete the sport has made unusually visible: a real college baseball player whose current identity combines infield play, performance, social media and live entertainment. A DWTS appearance puts that combination in front of an audience far beyond baseball.

Who is Jackson Olson?

The current Savannah roster lists Olson as #8, INF, from New Milford, Connecticut. His player profile separates current roster information from his older college record.

Before the Bananas, Olson played college baseball at the University of Hartford and later Stetson. Stetson’s official athletics profile lists him as an infielder, graduate student, left-handed hitter/right-handed thrower and New Milford native. It also records a.288 career batting average across 161 games at Hartford.

His college background is stronger than a “viral influencer” label suggests

Hartford’s official record shows that Olson started 56 games in 2019, hit.306 and collected 68 hits, a total the school says ranked second in the America East that season and tied for third-most in program history at the time. Stetson’s profile also notes his academic recognition and multi-year college experience.

That matters because the DWTS story can be misread as an entertainer who happens to wear a baseball uniform. Olson had a substantial baseball path before his current social reach. Banana Ball then gave him an environment where playing and performing could coexist.

What ABC and GMA actually confirmed

ABC announced Olson for Season 35 as a Savannah Bananas second baseman and internet personality. GMA reported that he was 28 when the casting was announced and quoted him describing how he had grown from a shy child who did not dance or entertain into someone who found a passion for performance.

Some details have not been confirmed yet. Professional pairings and other cast information can change as the season approaches, so this feature sticks to the announced facts.

Why a Bananas player fits Dancing with the Stars unusually well

Most baseball players are trained to keep performance around the game separate from the game itself. Banana Ball makes performance part of the job. The official Bananas site highlights choreographed dances, pre-pitch “3-2-2” routines, dramatic walk-ups and scoring celebrations as regular parts of the live show.

That does not make ballroom dancing the same skill. It does mean Olson comes from a sports environment where rhythm, timing, stage presence and playing to a crowd are already normal rather than completely foreign.

The crossover expands Banana Ball discovery

A viewer can discover Olson through DWTS without knowing the Savannah Bananas first. From there, the natural questions are who he plays for, what position he plays, how Banana Ball works and when the Bananas play next.

Use the Savannah roster for the current team list, the team schedule for upcoming games and How Banana Ball Works if the format is new to you.

What the story says about player brands in Banana Ball

Banana Ball’s personalities are not hidden behind a league logo. Players can have recognizable dances, social accounts, nicknames and entertainment roles while still being measured by what they do on the field. That visibility can make individual players recognizable well beyond the box score.

A deeper player feature is most useful when there is a distinct story to tell, such as Olson’s national television crossover, rather than a generic biography built from a roster line.

Jackson Olson’s 2026 Banana Ball stats belong on the player profile

Olson’s performance numbers can change from game to game, so his player profile and the Stats hub are the best places to check the latest available figures.

For the latest available numbers, use Jackson Olson’s player page or the Stats hub.

Olson’s baseball résumé is specific, not decorative

Before Banana Ball, Olson played four seasons at Hartford and then a graduate season at Stetson. Stetson’s athletics bio credits him with a.288 career batting average across 161 games at Hartford, including a.306 season in 2019 when his 68 hits ranked among the best totals in the America East. The same bio lists him as a graduate student working toward an MBA and notes multiple academic honors at Hartford.

Before the Bananas	Verified detail
Hartford career	161 games,.288 batting average.
2019 season	.306 average and 68 hits.
Academic profile	America East Scholar-Athlete recognition and graduate MBA work at Stetson.
Bananas era	Player, performer and social personality rather than a media personality with no baseball background.

The DWTS announcement completes a circle Olson had already joked about

Good Morning America reported on May 13 that ABC had announced Olson for Season 35 during Disney’s Upfront presentation. Olson said he had previously posted TikTok videos joking that he would be on the show and described the eventual opportunity as something he had almost “manifested.”

That detail matters because the crossover is not random casting. Olson’s public identity already sits at the intersection of baseball, social content and performance. A ballroom show is a bigger platform, but it is not a complete break from what he does in Banana Ball.

Why Olson is a useful case study for the Banana Ball player model

Traditional sports coverage often separates an athlete’s competitive role from their media role. Banana Ball intentionally lets those layers overlap. Olson can be evaluated as a player on a roster and also as a recurring entertainer who helps create the clips that introduce new people to the league.

That is why his DWTS appearance matters beyond celebrity news. If viewers encounter Banana Ball through Olson rather than through a game broadcast, the player becomes an acquisition channel for the league. The next step is whether those viewers continue into the player profile, Bananas schedule, team results or live broadcasts.

DWTS also tests whether Banana Ball personalities can travel outside baseball

The Bananas have already proven that their team brand can travel. Olson’s Season 35 appearance tests something narrower: whether an individual Banana Ball personality remains recognizable when the baseball setting disappears. That is a different type of brand strength.

ABC’s wider Season 35 promotion continued to identify Olson as a Savannah Bananas player months after the initial cast announcement. That repeated label gives Banana Ball mainstream exposure without requiring the league to buy an advertisement or stage a separate promotional event.

What to watch when Season 35 begins

Whether broadcasts explain Banana Ball to viewers who know Olson only from DWTS.
Whether his social audience starts following the competitive BBCL rather than only dance clips.
How Banana Ball schedules around a player with a major national television commitment.
Whether other players build similarly portable identities in future seasons.

The crossover is the lasting story here. For changing hitting, fielding and team results, check Olson’s player profile, the Stats hub and current team results.

Hartford helps explain how unusual the career path really was

Hartford Athletics documented Olson’s return to Connecticut with the Bananas and noted his 161 games for the Hawks. A traditional college résumé, an academic profile, social-media work and a touring entertainment team eventually converged into one career instead of replacing one another.

That background makes the DWTS story stronger because Olson did not enter sports as a performer first. He has described himself as someone who became more comfortable entertaining over time. The national dance show therefore functions as a visible endpoint of a personal shift already documented across his college and Banana Ball years.

What the crossover actually tells us

The relevant story is straightforward: who Olson is, why he joined Season 35, what his baseball background looks like and what the crossover means for Banana Ball. This feature stays with confirmed sports and television details.

Jackson Olson and DWTS FAQ

Is Jackson Olson on Dancing with the Stars?

Yes. ABC announced the Savannah Bananas player as a Season 35 celebrity contestant in May 2026.

What position does Jackson Olson play?

The current Savannah Bananas roster lists him as an infielder, #8.

Did Jackson Olson play college baseball?

Yes. He played at Hartford and Stetson. Official college records document his multi-year infield career.

Where can I see current Jackson Olson Banana Ball stats?

See the Jackson Olson player profile for the latest verified snapshot currently available.