The Chan Hicks Podcast | Ga'Von Wray: From Tennessee to the Savannah Bananas — Life as a Firefighter in Banana Ball

Host Chan Hicks catches up with his former Scouts USA teammate Ga'Von Wray on this episode of The Chan Hicks Podcast, sponsored by Corvive — your go-to for athlete hydration and nutrition — and Bluebook Sports, the go-to app for baseball and softball players, parents, and coaches. Ga'Von traces his path from the Atlanta Blue Jays travel ball circuit through a two-way commitment at the University of Tennessee, a COVID-shortened freshman season, a post-grad reset at Scouts USA, and three years at Georgia Southern, before landing with the Frederick Keys in the draft league. He shares the surreal story of getting scouted by the Savannah Bananas organization the moment he landed home from his final pro game — and what his first tryout was really like, from learning choreographed dances on the spot to realizing just how much elite talent is hiding in plain sight at every position on the Firefighters roster. Ga'Von opens up about the grind that shaped him — brutal two-a-days and infamous "plate push" workouts during his post-grad year — and reflects on his "next hack" moment: staying the course through a canceled COVID season and an uncertain transfer that eventually paid off. The two also get into the lighter side of Banana Ball life: viral TikTok dance-offs, the funniest guys in the league, and Ga'Von's excitement to play at Wrigley Field this season. A must-listen for players facing a setback or transfer decision, fans curious what it actually takes to make a Banana Ball roster, and anyone who wants proof that talent and entertainment aren't mutually exclusive in today's game.