Meet the Ballers’ New Outfielder, Zion Bannister

By Melissa Singh, B’s Beat Writer

The Oakland Ballers continue shaping their 2026 roster with players who bring more than just tools–they bring their stories, resilience, and energy. One of the most compelling additions this offseason is outfielder Zion Bannister, a dynamic athlete whose journey from the Bahamas to professional baseball has been anything but ordinary.

Born in Nassau, Bannister’s baseball path began early and moved fast. He signed professionally at just 17 years old as a shortstop, before even finishing high school. Over time, his game evolved from shortstop to outfielder, revealing a versatile defender with speed, instincts, and leadership qualities that translated across the field. Though his baseball card may list him as a utility player, Bannister is clear about where he thrives most: shortstop and center field. Speed has always been his calling card.

In the Bahamas, competition was constant, and it often came in the form of running races. Against family, friends, and anyone willing to line up, Bannister learned how to push himself. That athletic foundation now shows in the outfield, where his range, tracking ability, and strong arm allow him to impact the game defensively every day. His background in football also helped sharpen those instincts, as he translated route-running into smooth reads off the bat.

A Global Journey, Grounded Early

Though Nassau is home, Bannister’s upbringing spanned borders. He spent much of his early life traveling back and forth between the Bahamas and the United States, particularly Florida, where much of his family resides. He attended school in the Bahamas through seventh grade before transitioning into homeschooling, and this turning point allowed him to fully commit to baseball.

By age 12, Bannister was waking up before dawn to train. He eventually played summer ball with IMG Academy, and as a young teenager, he was already earning early scholarship offers, including one from the University of Miami. This was his dream school and his mother’s alma mater.

At just 13 years old, he took another leap, enrolling at West Nottingham Academy, where he competed on a varsity team, started at shortstop, and earned season MVP honors. From there, his path led him to the Dominican Republic, where he trained and competed against elite international talent. That chapter, however, came with adversity. A serious illness forced him to step away from the game and return home to the Bahamas to recover. This moment tested him physically and mentally and was one that ultimately reshaped his perspective for the long run.

Faith, Perspective, and Perseverance

Faith has become the foundation of Bannister’s life and career. He speaks openly about the mental and physical lows he’s endured, including those moments when his health was at serious risk. Through the trials, he credits God for carrying him forward — not just through recovery, but through every season of uncertainty that followed.

In recent years, Bannister took a deeper step into his faith, getting baptized and recommitting himself spiritually. Rather than life becoming easier, challenges continued — financial hardships, mental tests, personal struggles — but his perspective changed. He learned that adversity wasn’t punishment; it was preparation. That mindset carried him through a difficult stretch of training and uncertainty about his future in the game. When doubt crept in, encouragement from his parents and belief that his blessings were coming kept him moving forward.

A Professional Mindset, Anywhere in the World

Bannister’s development also took place across multiple baseball cultures. After foregoing those college offers, he instead signed as an international free agent with Texas Rangers when he was 17. He learned quickly what it meant to be treated like a professional regardless of age. Expectations were high, structure was demanding, and accountability was constant.

That professionalism translated seamlessly when he played winter ball in Australia for the Melbourne Aces, where he competed against players from Japan, Korea, the U.S., Latin America, and Australia. Despite the variety of styles and backgrounds, Bannister noticed one truth: the game doesn’t change, only the tempo does. Those experiences helped sharpen his approach—learning when to speed the game up, slow it down, or stay steady in the middle. Being surrounded by players who had reached or were close to reaching the highest levels in the sport reinforced the importance of preparation and consistency.

Tools, Growth, and Tapping into Potential

Known for his elite athleticism, Bannister embraces the scouting labels attached to his game: speed, arm strength, and raw power. Speed, he says, has always been his strongest attribute. Power, however, is something he feels he’s only recently begun to unlock. In recent workouts, Bannister noticed the ball jumping off his bat with less effort, a sign that his strength, nutrition, and mindset are aligning. Seeing balls leave the yard consistently helped reinforce what others had long believed: there’s more in his tank.

A self-described perfectionist, Bannister continues to push himself, believing there’s always another level to reach.

Why Oakland, Why Now

Joining the Oakland Ballers represents more than just another opportunity — it’s validation, timing, and purpose. After uncertainty about where his career might lead, being wanted and trusted by an organization meant everything. His faith, practiced over many years, proved prophetic when the call came from Aaron Miles, manager of the B’s. The mutual respect and support stood out immediately.

“It's mutual respect, mutual understanding of the love that the fans and the supporters show to the team and to the city. It's different. The culture is different. The winning environment is different,” he says. “The Ballers and the way Oakland fans are in general is very passionate…I feel like that's something that I really want to be a part of.”

Bannister understands what the Ballers represent to the city of Oakland — a team built on community pride. As the city’s lone professional baseball presence, the responsibility is one he embraces fully. He’s arriving ready to give everything he has to entertain, to inspire, to compete, and to win. More than anything, he’s committed to being himself: an energetic teammate and a leader, a player who leaves it all on the field. With his global experience, athleticism, deep faith, and relentless drive, Zion Bannister brings energy and purpose to the Oakland Ballers’ 2026 roster. His journey has already crossed cultures and challenges. Now, it brings him to Oakland, where the next chapter is ready to be written.

Let’s give Zion a warm welcome as he joins the Ballers and brings his energy to the Town!

Melissa Singh is the creator and host of Keya’s Room that is now Keya’s Locker Room podcast, launched in 2019, with experience in television, nonprofit media, and sports broadcasting. She previously served as a project manager for Small Stages Unplugged, works with the Oakland Ballers, and earned an AA in Digital Media.

Find her on Instagram at Keyaslockeroom

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