For Jonathan Luders, baseball has always been about more than just stats or scoreboards. It began in third grade on the fields of Lynnfield (Mass.) Little League, where fun and community paved the way for his career today, where he continues to play the game he loves while dancing, entertaining fans, and balancing on a unicycle.
Luders’ earliest memories of the game come from playing alongside his friends on the Little League diamond, experiencing the joy of playing, the buzz of game day, and the shared excitement of the community.
The Lessons Learned Throughout
As Luders’ skills grew, so did his appreciation for the people around him. Coaches at every level helped shape who he was, not just as a person, but as a player as well. In Little League, Matt Giammarco created a fun, welcoming environment that helped Jonathan fall in love with the game. That early sense of joy and purpose stayed with him all through public school, high school, and five years of NCAA Division I baseball at Seton Hall University. Coach O’Brien, Luders’ high school coach, brought an old–school approach and a sense of team culture that Jonathan never forgot. Wearing his socks high became a tradition and a way to honor O’Brien, who always said, “Every victory was together. And, every loss, every high, and every low is learned from or celebrated as a team.”
Rob Shephard, Luders’ college coach at Seton Hall, reinforced that baseball is much bigger than a game and placed a heavy emphasis on being involved with their network of alumni. Now with the Texas Tailgaters, a team within the Savannah Bananas organization, Luders has quickly caught on to Coach Michalek’s infectious energy and ability to bring the team together.
Facing Adversity
Adversity has played a part in Luders’ journey, too. The coronavirus pandemic interrupted his freshman year season at Seton Hall, and he then later faced a serious knee injury that had him questioning whether he was going to hang up the spikes for good. Luders turned to his mentor, a Seton Hall alumnus and former baseball player, for advice.
“When did you know you were done? When did you know you were done playing baseball, I asked him,” said Luders. “He said, ‘You must be 100% certain that you have nothing left to give to this game, if you still feel like you have gas in the tank, then don’t stop.”
That answer lit a fire in Luders to keep going.
“It gave me confidence. A confidence that allowed me to tell myself that I still have it in me. I am going to keep going, because at that point, I had friends and people in different circles getting really good jobs in the corporate office. I had some friends who were doing well in their first year and making good money, but that is their thing. That’s not my thing,” said Luders. “I am going to keep going down this journey. That’s when I saw the Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals play on TV at American Family Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers, and then days later, everything changed.”
Becoming a Texas Tailgater
Two days after seeing the matchup on TV, Luders received an unexpected call from a Savannah Bananas’ recruiting coordinator. The recruiter had seen college stats of Luders’ and was interested in the unique energy that he could bring to the organization. At the tryout, Luders brought his unicycle, a skill that he picked up in elementary school from Miss Robertson, his fourth-grade Physical Education teacher, who created a unicycling club that would meet before school.
Who knew that what started as a fun skill to learn would lead him to a contract with the Texas Tailgaters, but with the pivotal role that Miss Robertson played in his life, Luders knew he had to thank her.
“I hadn’t spoken to Miss Robertson in a couple of years at least. I didn’t have her phone number or anything like that,” said Luders. “I went to my former elementary school and got her address, and then I wrote her a letter in a Christmas card that said all of the things that I have done, like going to Banana Ball camp, riding the unicycle, learning how to hit on the unicycle, which the organization loved. I told her that without her teaching me in fourth grade, I would not be doing what I am doing now.”
Miss Robertson ended up receiving the card and sent Luders a heartfelt message sharing that it is more than his athletic ability that impressed those at the Banana Ball camp, but who he is as a person, as well. The two have had lunch together since, and Luders hopes to get her to a game soon.
Life on the Unicycle
Now, Luders carries his glove, bat, and unicycle to the fields, which has added a new level of difficulty and need for conditioning to keep up with Banana Ball’s high-speed pace. Looking to get better for his teammates, he turned to his strength coach, Justin Hewitt, who adjusted his strength schedule program to be specific for an unicycle baseball player.
“I didn’t even know there was a workout program for a unicycle baseball player. I don’t know how he came up with it, but that adjustment helped in a big way,” said Luders. “To stay sharp, I try to stay as healthy as I can and work out for more strength.”
On days when the unicycle is in transit, Jonathan focuses on refining and honing his baseball skills. However, when his unicycle is with him, he practices while riding. The toughest part? Mastering his skills with no manual or guide on how to unicycle and play baseball, and nobody to turn to who has done it all before, creating a series of trial and error.
Keeping the Game Fun
For Luders, Banana Ball is about more than flashy tricks or viral dance moves; it is about the impact. After every game, players do their best to interact with the fans, either by signing autographs, posing for photos, or through some other show of appreciation for those who support them. One moment that stands out to Luders the most during his time with the Texas Tailgaters is meeting before a game with a family who travelled 17 hours to watch the Tailgaters play in Reno, Nevada.
“They were carrying a sign, and after seeing it, I wanted to be there for that family and be able to look at them face to face, and talk to them on a human being level, not just as a fan,” said Luders. ‘When I talked to them, I thanked them for coming to the game and promised to put their son on the unicycle to push him around. It is the little things that mean the most to make sure the fans’ experience is as exciting and memorable as possible.”
Keeping the fun in baseball is something Luders prides himself on. As a player gets older, the pressure can build, whether that is at the collegiate or professional level, and the joy can sometimes fade. He finds inspiration from former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and Little League grad Brett Phillips on the best ways to let loose and have fun. Phillips and Luders believe that everyone has their version of fun.
“The way I stay loose and have fun is hustling on the field, being energetic, dancing around a little bit, and bringing a new range of fans to the game,” said Luders. “The passion I bring day in and day out with baseball and unicycling, I want to inspire people and want them to see that they can bring their niches and creativity into baseball and have fun doing it, like I do.”
Continuing his baseball career on such a visible platform means more than Luders could have ever imagined. Connecting with fans all over the world and showing kids that there is always more than one path to success through social media is both new and exciting for Luders. Whether it is through his unicycling, baseball skills, or joyful presence on the field, Luders hopes to inspire others to lean into their passions and embrace what makes them different. His message is clear: baseball is meant to be fun, and with the right mindset, it can lead you to some pretty incredible places.
Luders, the Texas Tailgaters, and everyone involved with Banana Ball make sure to bring the FUN of baseball to life every single day. Learn more about Little League’s core value, FUN, and how we live it out each and every day by visiting LittleLeague.org/Who-We-Are.