Seven years after stepping away from Major League Baseball, Hawaii native Shane Victorino is returning to the diamond in a new role, this time as a manager.
Victorino was announced as the “Prime Time Manager” for the Loco Beach Coconuts, an expansion team set to debut in 2026 in the Banana Ball Championship League, the fast-growing baseball entertainment brand that originated with the Savannah Bananas.
While Mark Crocco will serve as the team’s full-time head coach, Victorino’s role will see him manage select games while helping shape the team’s culture and identity around his signature style of play, gritty, fast, and full of energy.
“I’m pumped and excited,” Victorino said. “It’s something different. Having played in the majors and now being involved with Banana Ball, I see it through a new lens. It’s an opportunity to do something fun.”
The two-time World Series champion and Maui native said his goal is to bring his hard-nosed, passionate approach to the Banana Ball stage.
“I want it to resemble how I played the game, playing it the right way, playing it hard,” Victorino said. “Banana Ball is all about the tricks and the fun, but I’ve always believed that success comes from hard work, running out the 90 feet, being scrappy at the plate. That’s how I want our team to play.”
Beyond the field, Victorino said he hopes the team’s creation can inspire a new generation of players — and maybe even plant seeds for something bigger back home.
“Hopefully someday this brings light to the game in Hawaii,” he said. “That’s my ultimate goal, to be part of something that makes an impact and hopefully bring it to the kids. Maybe one day we’ll have a stadium here in the near future.”
For a look at the Banana Ball schedule, click here.