From NAIA to Banana Ball: An Interview With Brett Allen

Brett’s Beginnings

This week, I had the opportunity to sit down and interview former NAIA baseball player and current Banana Ball pitcher Brett “Donny” Allen. Allen was born in Austin, Texas before moving to Australia at the age of 10.

“My dad’s the Aussie, my mom’s the Texan,” Allen explained.

Baseball runs in the family. His father also played the game, representing Team Australia before continuing his career at Lamar University in Texas. 

Allen attended high school in Australia and noted how fortunate he was that his school offered a wide range of sports. He described the environment as very “Americanized,” pointing out that the school featured 22 different sports programs. Allen went on to explain how limited his opportunities were to play baseball during high school. On average, he played just one game per week—occasionally two—and maintained that schedule all the way through age 18. 

“I think that was a blessing that I just got to play a couple extra games,” he commented.

College Career
Allen didn’t receive much interest from other schools coming out of high school, so when a coach told him he could help prepare him for college baseball, Allen seized the opportunity. That coach was Charles Thompson, who took Allen under his wing after graduation and helped develop him for the next level. Thompson later connected Allen with a coach he had a close relationship with, and Allen received a college offer that very same day.

“I took it as, like, heck yeah, foot in the door,” Allen said.

Allen would begin his college career at Treasure Valley Community College in Oregon, where he would post a 5.17 ERA with 40 strikeouts, 29 walks, and 22 earned runs season overall and a 2.28 ERA with 26 strikeouts, 16 walks, and 6 earned runs in conference play. 

After the season Allen was looking to transfer but not before he made a minor adjustment that would have a major impact on the rest of his career. 

While joking around with his teammates, one of them suggested that Allen try throwing a bullpen from a sidearm arm slot. To his surprise, he immediately noticed an increase in velocity. After seeing the results, Allen informed his coach that he wanted to use the sidearm delivery during live at-bats, a decision that would ultimately change the course of his pitching career.

“I made my team look stupid,” Allen said, describing his live at-bat session.

His teammates then suggested that he post the video on Twitter, but at the time Allen didn’t even have an account. He quickly created one and uploaded the clip of his new sidearm delivery. Within 24 hours, college coaches from across the country were reaching out to him, interested in the velocity and movement he was generating from his unique arm slot.

Allen would eventually transfer to Barton Community College, a region 6 junior college in Kansas. 

After his time at Barton came to an end, Allen decided to continue his collegiate career at Reinhardt University. He said his decision was heavily influenced by head coach Jonathan Burton, who first offered him a scholarship after seeing the original pitching video Allen posted on Twitter. Although Allen initially turned down the offer, Burton continued to recruit him throughout his season at Barton.

“I thought that said a lot about a coach,” Allen said. “That was the best decision I ever made because I had a coach that believed in me.”

Allen described his fall as a rough time in his baseball career.

“Absolutely sucked. I couldn’t throw a ball over 82 miles an hour the entire fall,” he described it.

However, Allen’s exit meeting with coach Burton showed why he chose to play for him. Burton told him that he knows he probably didn’t have the best fall, but that he still believes in Allen and in his abilities as a baseball player.

Allen returned for the spring season and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference. During his junior campaign, he posted a 2.59 ERA and a 6-1 record while recording 88 strikeouts and eight saves. He allowed just 25 earned runs and issued only 22 walks throughout the season. His outstanding performance on the mound earned him First Team All-Conference honors in 2024, solidifying his status as one of the top relievers in the conference.

Allen’s dominant 2024 season continued on the national stage at the NAIA World Series. With Reinhardt sitting at 2-0 in the tournament, the Eagles were set to face another unbeaten powerhouse in Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies, with a spot in the championship round hanging in the balance.

About 15 minutes before game time, Allen’s coach came up to him and asked if he could start the game.

“I’ll give you everything I got,” Allen responded. 

Allen would then say that this was his most remembered game of his life as he would throw a complete game throwing 151 pitches and collecting 11 strikeouts in the process. 

Reinhardt would defeat Georgia Gwinnett and move on to the semi-finals and face conference opponent Tennessee Wesleyan, where they would unfortunately be eliminated.

Allen’s overpowering performance did not go unrecognized, as he was named to the 2024 NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team. Allen would finish the World Series with 11 innings pitched, 13 strikeouts, 8 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 1save. \

Allen’s senior year wasn’t as dominant as his junior season yet he would still find himself as a First Team All Conference player with a sub 4 earned run average. 

After Allen’s time at Reinhardt, he had the opportunity to play at a Division one school in Tennessee. Allen would receive an offer to pitch at Austin Peay University for his last season of college baseball. However before receiving the offer Allen would attend a Banana Ball tryout at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. 

Brett’s Banana Ball Career

After his Banana Ball tryout, Allen received a call informing him that his name would be entered into the Banana Ball Draft, which is scheduled for October. Although he wasn’t selected for the Visitors—the Banana Ball scout team—he narrowly missed earning a spot, with Fisher Polydoroff ultimately being chosen instead.

“Fisher fit the mold so incredibly well,” Allen would say, describing the well loved Banana Baller. 

Brett had no choice but to take his offer from Austin Peay. Allen was two days away from signing his letter of intent to go play at Austin Peay until he got a call from Barry Aldridge. Barry told him that one of the pitchers on the Visitors went down with an arm injury and asked how soon can Allen get there. Barry also added that Allen was the first player they called as soon as the spot opened up.

“I’m like, in the weirdest state of mind, this is such polar opposites, but I wanted both of them so bad,” Allen said about his situation. 

Allen thought that he could do the Visitors and then go to Austin Peay. 

Allen would move in with some of the Visitor players and hit the ground running. He had to wait a week to throw because he was shell shocked from his indoor bullpens. 

Allen would pitch 4 out of the 5 games that were played.
“I pitched pretty well, and loved it,” Allen said about his four outings with the Visitors.

Allen was amazed about how the fans would treat him after the games.

“There’s kids coming up to me, treating me like I’m Aaron Judge after the game,” Allen said about his fan interactions.

After Allen’s first game he immediately called his parents and told them he doesn’t want to do anything else for the next 10 years of his life and when he can’t throw a baseball he would become the International Ambassador for Banana Ball. 

Allen knew Banana Ball is where he wanted to take his baseball career. Two days after moving to Savannah, Allen calls his coach at Austin Peay to inform him about his decision. 

“I’m about to be, like your biggest enemy, and I totally understand if you just hate my guts for this,” Allen said during his phone call. 

Thankfully for Allen the coach for Austin Peay is best friends with Coach Gillum, the head coach for the Savannah Bananas. Both of these coaches played together in college and remained best friends. So when Allen called the Austin Peay coach he was all for it wishing him the best of luck. 

Allen would be selected in the sixth round by the Texas Tailgaters and begin his Banana Ball career.

“I think pitching in Banana Ball is the hardest thing to do,” Allen said when I asked about his mental game between Banana Ball and traditional baseball.

Allen started out a little rocky but he would make an adjustment that would help take his skills in Banana Ball much further. Allen already worked fast as a pitcher in traditional baseball and unknowing to his quickness in baseball was perfect for the speed of Banana Ball. However, Allen tried to speed himself up more on the mound in Banana Ball causing him to be less accurate. Allen would slow himself down on the mound and started to feel it much better on the mound.

Another mental battle that Allen faced was having a mental switch from going to a silly dancing player to a hyperfocused locked-in pitcher on the mound. Allen would talk to his teammate Chris Clarke who pitched at the Triple A level. 

“He is the most hyperfocused individual in that stadium. As soon as [the ball] leaves his hand the switch is back off,” Allen said, describing his teammate. Allen continues to learn from Clarke about this whole new level of pitching that Allen has found himself in. 

“Chris Clarke, I will keep praising him,” Allen said.

Playing in all of these big and amazing stadiums throughout the US I was curious what Brett Allen’s favorite stadium he has played in has been so far. Allen said his favorite football stadium so far has been FSU. 

“Pitching in front of 65,000 people was pretty sick,” Allen said while describing his time at FSU.

And for his baseball stadium it was Dell Diamond Stadium, home of the Round Rock Express. This park was special to Allen due to it playing a huge role in his childhood. Allen grew up visiting the stadium, even attending his very first baseball game there as well. 

Closing Discussion

In concluding this article with Brett Allen I opened up the floor for him to talk about anything he has left on his mind.

Allen began to discuss how Banana Ball and NAIA baseball are much similar than many people think. Allen breaks down how both Banana Ball and NAIA baseball are melting pots for many players coming from all different levels and backgrounds. 

Allen also talks about how NAIA programs give many players chances to become great ball players. He says this because Allen was a player that was given a chance and he found his groove and became one of the most dominant closers in NAIA baseball. 

“I look at Banana Ball as now like a professional version of that,” Allen said, comparing Banana Ball to NAIA baseball.

Allen explains how seeing all different types of players in the clubhouse reminds him a lot about NAIA baseball. 

The final thing Allen left me with is this quote from his father.

“You cannot be unhappy and grateful at the same time,” Allen said.

Allen tells me how this doesn’t only apply for baseball but in every aspect of our personal lives. He said those two feelings do not exist together and can never exist together. 

Brett Allen’s journey from Reinhardt University to the Texas Tailgaters is a testament to the value of hard work, perseverance, and making the most of every opportunity. Grateful for everyone who has supported him along the way, Allen has approached each step of his career with the goal of becoming the best pitcher and teammate he can be. 

Cooper Carter – NAIA Ball Staff Writer