‘Banana Ball’ a family reunion for the Reids

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Game 2 of Banana Ball Friday night brought another sellout crowd to Reno’s Greater Nevada Field.

But for a couple dozen people it meant more than taking in an entertaining baseball exhibition.

Jon Reid, who pitches for the Texas Tailgaters, has the 775 in his blood.

“To me it means the world and having (family) come out,” Jon said.

The relief pitcher is in town for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. Kevin Reid, Jon’s dad, has deep roots in the area with family who lives in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Douglas County.

“It’s super fun just to see (Jon) still out there enjoying the game and the game that he loves,” said Kevin Reid.

Jon has been coming to Northern Nevada for years on an annual basis to visit. He’s now based out of Savannah, Georgia.

Jon has spots he has to hit when he’s in Reno.

“For sure In-N-Out, Lake Tahoe, and then Heavenly. In the snow? You can’t beat it,” Jon said.

Trips to the ski resort will have to wait. In the meantime dozens of family members made the trip to Greater Nevada Field to see Jon play Friday night.

His mom, Stacey, and brother, Zachary, got to see a different side of Jon.

“To see him dancing has been an enjoyment,” Stacey said. “Yesterday was fun to see him out there shaking a little bit because we never see it at home.”

Zachary likes seeing his brother continuing to live his dream.

“He’s a professional baseball player who gets paid to dance and do TikToks on the side. It’s nuts. I grew up going to all his games and all of our summer vacations were worked around baseball,” Zachary said.

In the 8th inning of Friday’s game Jon worked around some traffic on the base paths which kept the Tailgaters in the game. He finished his outing with a point to his family in Section 111.

“For me to put a smile on a kid’s face I think that’s all my mom ever wanted so that’s what I’m trying to do,” Jon said.

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