TIL about Derek Klena who spent a decade on Broadway and earned a Tony nomination before switching to pitcher for the Savannah Bananas
Posted by EchoesOfYouth
TIL about Derek Klena who spent a decade on Broadway and earned a Tony nomination before switching to pitcher for the Savannah Bananas
Posted by EchoesOfYouth
23 Comments
TIL He switched to baseball?!
He was absolutely amazing as Dimitri in Anastasia The Musical.
[https://youtu.be/EWYpXfAzbrc?](https://youtu.be/EWYpXfAzbrc?)
The Bananas are so fun and so talented! It’s amazing the different places they’ve picked up players from
That man is having a lot of fun with his life.
He’s living Troy Bolton’s dream
They’re basically just expanding into singing, so they’re recruiting athletic Broadway stars to sing and then play for a round or two.
Klena is a contracted pitcher I believe so he’s mainly there to sing and then throw occasionally.
Either way it’s a smart strategy to help build their brand.
The Savannah Bananas are one of the most adorable things about American culture. Between this and the niche sporting events broadcasted on the Ocho, I am so charmed.
I just want to say, from one man to another man, and in front of many men, that this man has wildly sexy singing voice.
Two of my favorite worlds colliding!!! I was able to see them in Cincinnati where he performed “Bring Him Home,” it was incredible and hilarious!!
He was on UCLA’s baseball team once upon a time
Iirc, the thoroguhline here is that he played baseball at UCLA (I think).
DJ FingaBlast!
https://preview.redd.it/n5wdpkrxxnch1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e368486f8ad0a58a010991f0d0570e94ad47f522
He sang “A Thousand Miles” at one of my games 😆
I am a big fan of Banana Ball, but I gotta say, I like nearly all of the other teams more than the Bananas. I do like them too though and I think Derek is awesome!
Yo broadway world is crazy and small. My mom went to high school with Celia Keenan-Bolger. it was crazy to find out the woman who originated Olive Ostrovsky is Facebook friends with her lol.
My favorite skit they’ve done was the TikTok Boyz II Men challenge. lol
I saw him as the lead in both Anastasia and Moulin Rouge. Incredible talent. I also met him back in May with some of the other Bananas, he’s very sweet and friendly to top it off!
Neat (gift link) article about his career and choice to join the Bananas! https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/arts/savannnah-bananas-derek-klena-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.w1A.snD8.cxJ7K4z0ApE9&smid=nytcore-ios-share
My dream is to go to a bananas game.
So, this was me a month ago.
Still obsessed. Just the best of many worlds I love converging.
As a theatre nerd this is how I learned that he switched to baseball 😂
TIL *I* learned that Derek Klena is no longer pursuing Broadway FT lol
I love this! That’s awesome 😍