Jackson Olson is aiming for a home run in the ballroom.
The Savannah Bananas baseball player and boyfriend of Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie Sajak joined Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
Olson’s upcoming gig was announced at Disney’s upfront presentation on Tuesday.
On Wednesday’s episode of “Good Morning America,” the fan-favorite athlete revealed his status on the competition series.
“I kind of brought all this to light,” he explained. “I posted on TikTok a few times last year. I was just joking and pranking my coach about being on this show, and I didn’t think there was a chance. But once I posted it, I thought, ‘Maybe it’s a possibility.'”
Olson added that he had “seen some comments” that made him reconsider whether joining “DWTS” was appropriate.
After the news was announced, the athlete’s girlfriend Maggie posted a series of supportive messages on her Instagram Stories.
The TV personality reposted the official announcement and wrote, “So proud.”
A second shot showed the couple watching fireworks from behind, with the caption: “I’m so proud of you.”
“You better get the dance floor ready,” Maggie warned.
This exciting news comes just a month after the couple announced their romance.
At the time, Olson addressed their relationship status in a joint Instagram post with the caption, “Applications are closed ✅.”
This fall, Olson will join “Summer House” star Ciara Miller and “Traitors” runner-up Maura Higgins in the ballroom.
The full cast will be revealed on “Good Morning America” on September 2nd.
But Olson has plenty of experience dancing on baseball fields.
Founded in 2016 by Jesse and Emily Cole, Savannah Bananas combines baseball with choreographed dance, sing-alongs, stilt-walkers, and more.
Olson joined the Georgia-based team in 2022 after turning down an offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks a few years ago.
The baseball player transferred from the University of Hartford to Stetson University after the MLB Draft was shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Olson quickly gained an online following by showing off his dance moves and baseball skills on TikTok.
Olson’s videos earned her a spot on Savannah Bananas and she has since amassed more than 2 million followers on the social media platform.
“After my career at Stetson University, I thought I was done with baseball,” the influencer told People magazine in 2023. “Mentally, I didn’t like baseball anymore, and Bananas gave me that back.”
