A Very Baller Holidays
Inside the Team’s Winter Traditions:
Gabe Tanner, Esai Santos, and Zion Bannister Reflect on the Holidays and Offseason
by Chris Drue, B’s Beat Writer
With the colder days of the baseball offseason here and the warmer days of Spring Training still a few months away, the Oakland Ballers have a moment to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones and recharge. Dispatches caught up with returning players Gabe Tanner and Esai Santos, as well as new outfielder Zion Bannister, to learn about their holiday traditions and offseason plans.
Gabe Tanner, Starting Pitcher
Danville-native Gabe Tanner is coming off of a stellar first season as a professional baseball player. Signed by the B’s right after graduating from CSU East Bay, Tanner went on to have a perfect 9-0 record in 11 starts and 17 appearances over 77 IP, with a 3.26 ERA, 47 K, 1.22 WHIP, and the team's first-ever complete game.
Gabe continued his success and dazzled in the playoffs in key moments, critically winning both of his playoff starts in win-or-go-home games. Fans will long remember his first round, game 3 start against the Odgen Raptors, where Tanner blanked the Raptors over 8 flawless innings (averaging an incredible 10 pitches per inning), leading to Oakland’s first championship berth.
Source credit: Oakland Ballers / Animation by C. Drue
Re-signing shortly after Oakland’s championship season, Gabe is currently recharging for the 2026 season by enjoying a few classic Christmas traditions with his family. “I always look forward to heading down to Santa Cruz and chopping down our Christmas tree as a family, “ Gabe shared with Dispatches, adding that it’s been a longstanding family tradition.
Photo courtesy of Gabe Tanner
Tanner further shared that he loves rewatching classic Christmas movies, especially older Disney Christmas specials, as well as the 1960s stop-motion staples Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
In between finding the perfect tree, catching a classic movie, and filling up on his mother’s mashed potatoes, Gabe is still focused on his training and the upcoming season as part of his daily routine: “The holidays are usually off time, but I am still lifting and throwing every day.”
Esai Santos, Outfielder
Esai Santos, center. Source Credit: Oakland Ballers
Esai Santos is also coming off a big first season as a professional baseball player. The Berkeley native was drafted by the Oakland Ballers ahead of the 2025 season after impressing the team during tryouts, securing a final roster spot and eventually becoming a starting outfielder.
In 85 games, Santos displayed patience and clutch hitting, going .289 with 11 HR, 46 RBI, 66 R and 11 SB. Esai had a knack for big moments in 2025, such as his memorable game-winning 9th-inning grand slam against the High Wheelers on August 1st.
During the holidays, spending quality time with loved ones is important to Esai as he prepares to return to the Oakland Ballers for 2026. “I try to prioritize being around family and friends during the holidays, so there may be a few more off days that are spent in enjoying quality time with them,” Santos shared with Dispatches, noting, however, that his offseason training regimen otherwise doesn’t change much from his usual program.
As for annual holiday traditions, Esai and his family enjoy spending time playing classic board games together, such as Yahtzee and Boggle, and watching Home Alone. Another one of Santos’ favorites is his mother’s tamales – which she makes both with pork and rajas (roasted poblano peppers with cheese) – a notoriously labor-intensive dish but always a labor of love during the Christmas season.
Zion Bannister, Outfielder
A new face on the field at Raimondi Park next season will be outfielder Zion Bannister. Bannister, from Nassau, Bahamas, is a speedy switch-hitter who has played for Round Rock (AAA), Frisco (AA) and Down East (A) in the Texas Rangers' minor league system and was considered as the fastest prospect in their system (Bannister notably swiped 19 stolen bases in just 49 games with Down East). Most recently, Zion played for the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League.
Reached from his home in Arizona, Zion emphasized the importance of being with family for the holidays: “When loved ones are around you it’s a natural reset button [...]. To reflect and understand how I can be a better baseball player, son, significant other, and person.” Zion added that his family reflects and shares their goals, accomplishments, and challenges for the previous and upcoming year over Christmas.
Other traditions for Zion include watching his favorite Christmas movies – the Friday After Next and Home Alone 1 and 2. As he and his family are from the Bahamas, Zion added there is a love for anything seafood, especially conch (with his mother making the best conch fritters, stew and stuffing). Bannister has also been drawing inspiration from a book from his pastor, The Fire is For You, by Travis Hern, as he resets this holiday season.
Zion shared that he has felt an immediate reciprocal love with Oakland and Ballers fans. As he prepares to make an impact in 2026, even during Christmas there are no off days with his training: “I want to bring fire, happiness and excitement to the city of Oakland [...]. I want to be part of the history of Oakland.”
Photo courtesy Zion Bannister
Chris Drue is an East Bay native who has loved baseball since visiting the Coliseum with his dad as a kid. His favorite combo at Raimondi Park is a Fieldwork Day Money and a veggie dog (in a helmet!). His favorite pitch is the eephus, with a Barry Zito 12-6 curveball (circa 2002) a very close second. Find him on Instagram.
