Nine Innings With Banana Baller and Former Hawkeye Drew Irvine

PHOTOS COURTESY DREW IRVINE West Des Moines native Drew Irvine, who pitched at Iowa from 2019 to 2021, is now a member of the Indianapolis Clowns in the Banana Ball Championship League.

Drew Irvine is a professional baseball pitcher. His job involves grueling training sessions, throwing fastballs—and juggling.

Irvine pitches for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Banana Ball League. He plays real baseball, but it’s the sped-up version that the barnstorming exhibition league is known for. Plus, he has to learn choreographed dances.

As a former University of Iowa baseball player and current student taking classes online, Irvine has fond memories of the Hawkeye Wave and visiting UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital with his teammates. This Banana Ball season, he’s donating $20 for every strikeout he records to the children’s hospital.

Iowa Magazine recently caught up with Irvine for a nine-inning interview to get the Banana Ball scoop.

1.What was your path to Banana Ball?

I played three years at Iowa before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. I played two and a half years with them in the minor leagues. After I was released, I played in the Australian Baseball League and fractured my elbow. I did some rehab, and my mom suggested I try out for the Banana Ball League since she’s a big fan. It’s amazing—I went from thinking I was done to now getting to play in sold-out stadiums.

Drew Irvine poses with a young fan during a Banana Ball stop in Kansas City this past May.

2.Why did you choose to donate to Stead Family Children’s Hospital?

Every time we did the Wave, it was hard to not be touched by it, to get chills. Any chance to go see the kids was absolutely amazing.

3.Can you tell us about your Iowa roots?

I grew up in West Des Moines, and I went to Waukee High School. Our whole basement is an Iowa Hawkeye mancave, so that was my goal growing up: to wear the black and gold.

4.How did your time at Iowa prepare you for today?

The people who sculpted me—my coaches, my professors—they care about you so deeply at Iowa. It felt like home and made me the person I am today. Those Midwestern values kept me humble.

Drew Irvine is donating $20 for each strikeout he records this season to UI Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital.

5.Do you have any advice for the current generation of Hawkeye athletes?

It’s so cliché, but it goes so fast, and just to take any opportunity you can to better yourself and help the people around you.

6.Do you have a special move or trick in Banana Ball?

There’s an entertainment pitcher who goes out to do the trick pitches, but I am on the more competitive side of things. My dancing is … not great. I’m much better at juggling. My number is also “67” so that’s a big thing with the kids.

7.How do players prepare for the Banana Ball games?

All our teams are based out of Savannah, Georgia, so we all train and live there. That’s our home base. We practice, work out, and live together.

8.What’s your favorite baseball movie?

Every time A League of Their Own is on TV I always have to watch it.

9.Are you really playing to win or are the games scripted?

The only thing that’s scripted is the dancing! We’re playing to win out there.

Indianapolis Clowns pitcher Drew Irvine is pictured during a game against the Savannah Bananas this past May at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.