“Tyler Gillum Commits to the Heart of BananaLand: Signs 10-Year Deal to Lead Savannah Bananas into the Future”
Tyler Gillum’s Emotional & Personal Speech
“Standing here today, signing this 10-year deal with the Savannah Bananas, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.
When I first stepped into BananaLand, I had no idea how much this place would change me — not just as a coach, but as a person. Baseball has always been my passion, but here, it became something bigger. It became about joy. About family. About people.
The truth is, this journey hasn’t always been easy. Coaching means long hours, tough losses, and sacrifices. My family has sacrificed right alongside me — late nights, missed holidays, countless phone calls from the road. To my loved ones: I owe you everything. You’ve been my foundation when the weight felt heavy, and this moment is as much yours as it is mine.
To Jesse and this organization — thank you for believing in me, for trusting me with this vision, and for letting me be part of something that’s so much more than baseball. To my players, past and present — you’ve taught me as much as I’ve ever taught you. Watching you grow, compete, laugh, and love this game has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
And to the fans — Banana Nation — you’re the heartbeat of all this. You remind us why we play, why we dance, why we pour our souls into every inning. You’ve welcomed me like family, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.
This 10-year deal isn’t just about a contract. It’s a promise. A promise that I’ll continue to give everything I have to this team, this city, and this movement. A promise to keep dreaming bigger, to keep pushing limits, and to keep spreading the love and joy of baseball wherever we go.
I’m humbled. I’m grateful. And I’m ready.
Here’s to the next decade together. Here’s to more memories, more smiles, and more moments that remind us why we fell in love with this game in the first place.
Thank you. I love you all.”
