BEAUMONT, Texas — Two former Lamar University baseball players will now get a chance to play in the greatest show in sports.

Bryce Grizzaffi and Kirkland Banks had their names called in the first-ever Banana Ball player draft.

The inaugural season for the Banana Ball Championship League kicks off in 2026 with 11 preseason games beginning in February.

Six teams are set to compete in the league, which includes the four original teams — Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters.

The Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns join the league for the first time.

Running from April to September, the regular season consists of 50 games that will be played in 45 states and in 14 Major League Baseball parks and 10 football stadiums.

The season concludes with the playoffs and the Banana Bowl on Oct. 10.

This year's tour is making stops in 10 Texas cities: Amarillo, Arlington, College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Frisco, Midland, Round Rock, San Antonio and Sugar Land.

Grizzaffi, who recently wrapped up his collegiate career with the Cardinals in 2025, was picked up in the 11th round by the Savannah Bananas.

A native of Morgan City, La., Grizzaffi transferred to Lamar from Southeastern Louisiana where he was a four-year letterwinner playing in 120 games and making 97 career starts.

He earned second team All-Southland Conference nods in 2022 as well as all-defensive team honors.

In his final season with the Cardinals, he played in 48 games driving in 18 runs while posting 35 hits and a 13-game on-base streak to end the spring as a utility player.

Grizzaffi is currently in his first year as the director of player development at Lamar.

Banks, a former two-sport standout at Lamar, was selected in the ninth round by the Indianapolis Clowns.

A former 2022 Western Athletic Conference All-Defensive team selection, Banks played for the Cardinals during the 2019, 2022 and 2023 seasons as an infielder.

He scored 63 runs and tallied 42 RBIs in his career as he played in 106 games also posting 17 multi-hit games.

From 2017-2021, Banks was also a wide receiver at Lamar, playing in 52 career games and earning 43 starts.

He caught 111 passes while he totaled 1,391 yards and six touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 393 yards on 66 carries with one touchdown.

Banks had been playing in the Pioneer League, which operates in one of four MLB Partner Leagues.

In 2024, he played for the Yolo High Wheelers in Davis, Calif. He played in 76 games, tallying 270 at-bats with 12 doubles, 75 hits and 39 RBIs.

Banks split time in 2025 with the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers and Idaho Falls Chukars.

In two seasons competing in the Pioneer League, he posted a career .283 average with 10 home runs, 147 hits, 20 doubles, 30 stolen bases and 81 RBIs.