“Dancing With the Stars” just added another unexpected name to its Season 35 lineup, and sports fans are already buzzing. Jackson Olson, the viral Savannah Bananas second baseman and social media personality, has officially joined the upcoming season of the hit ABC competition series.
‘Dancing With The Stars’ Casts Viral Savannah Bananas Player Jackson Olson
Disney announced Olson’s casting during its upfront presentation on Tuesday, making him the third celebrity contestant confirmed so far for Season 35. The baseball star joins “Love Island” and “The Traitors” breakout Maura Higgins, along with “Summer House” favorite Ciara Miller, in the growing cast lineup.
Olson Became A Viral Star Through The Savannah Bananas
While Olson is known on the field as a second baseman for the wildly popular Savannah Bananas, he has also built a massive following online thanks to his personality-driven content. The influencer frequently shares videos centered around baseball, relationships, food, family life, and personal growth, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look into both his career and daily life.
Whether he’s trying over-the-top ballpark snacks, hopping on dance trends, or posting emotional reflections about life and love, Olson has become known for blending humor and authenticity across social media. He now boasts more than 2 million followers on TikTok.
Jackson Olson Nearly Walked Away From Baseball Before Joining Bananas
Olson’s path to the Savannah Bananas wasn’t exactly traditional. Before becoming one of the team’s standout personalities, the athlete reportedly considered stepping away from baseball entirely after his college career.
After initially declining an offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks to finish his degree, Olson later transferred from the University of Hartford to Stetson University when the MLB Draft was shortened during the pandemic.
Years later, his growing online presence eventually caught the attention of Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole, ultimately leading to Olson earning a spot on the team in 2022. “I thought I was done with baseball after my career at Stetson University,” Olson previously told PEOPLE in 2023. “Mentally, I kind of fell out of love with the game. And the Bananas brought that back.”
Olson Recently Went Instagram Official With Maggie Sajak
The “DWTS” casting news also comes just weeks after Olson hard-launched his new relationship with Maggie Sajak, the daughter of former “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak. The couple officially debuted their romance on Instagram on April 21, months after Olson previously went viral for publicly searching for a girlfriend online.
Back in January, the Savannah Bananas star shared a playful TikTok and Instagram video featuring One Direction’s “Kiss You” while revealing he had been single for more than five years. In text over the clip, Olson admitted he was “getting pretty tired of it recently” before jokingly launching what he called his “official 2026 boyfriend application.” “So here is my official 2026 boyfriend application,” he wrote.
Now, just months later, Olson appears to have found love and landed a spot on one of television’s biggest reality competition shows.
Savannah Bananas Continue Taking Baseball Viral
The Savannah Bananas have become a social media phenomenon thanks to their unconventional style of baseball entertainment. Founded in 2016 by Jesse and Emily Cole, the team blends traditional baseball with choreographed dances, comedy bits, crowd participation, sing-alongs, and viral on-field stunts.
“But it’s not about the followers or the amount of views,” Jesse Cole previously said. “It’s about embracing our core ideology of being Fans First and Entertaining Always. We always believe our fans deserve new and fun entertainment every day.”
From players performing dance routines mid-game to athletes appearing on stilts, the Bananas have helped transform baseball into a full-scale entertainment experience. Now, Olson is taking that high-energy personality from the baseball field straight to the ballroom.
ABC confirmed that the remaining celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners will officially be revealed on September 2 on “Good Morning America.” Season 35 of “Dancing With the Stars” is expected to premiere this fall on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.