“Yeahhhh!” Petco fans with arms raised yelled after Cruz’s game-ending catch. But that was only the half of it – x-rays taken the next day revealed Cruz played with a fractured arm, compliments of a mishap before the game.

“Yeahhhh!” Petco fans with arms raised yelled after Cruz’s game-ending catch. But that was only the half of it – x-rays taken the next day revealed Cruz played with a fractured arm, compliments of a mishap before the game.

 

 

 

Here’s a write‑up on Robert Anthony Cruz (“Coach RAC”), Arrowhead Christian graduate turned Savannah Bananas star, and how a moment of ‘oops’ became a viral smash hit:

 

Robert Anthony Cruz, better known in baseball show circles as “Coach RAC,” hails from Arrowhead Christian Academy, where he first showed not just athletic ability, but an affinity for showmanship. His path eventually led him to the Savannah Bananas, the exhibition baseball team famous for turning the sport into performance art: think theatrical antics, dance routines, fan interaction, and yes — acrobatics.

 

 

On July 24, 2025, during a live interview on CNN News Central, Cruz attempted one of his signature backflips. What happened next quickly escalated into internet legend. As he soared, something went wrong — his feet slipped, he under‑rotated, and instead of a clean landing, he ended in a face‑plant on the studio floor. Onlookers gasped. One of the co‑hosts, Kate Bolduan, could be heard startled, and Cruz lost a shoe, his mic pack scattered, and he wound up with a bleeding lip and chin.

 

 

Thankfully, despite the spectacle, Cruz escaped with no serious physical damage — just “several stitches” and “slightly damaged pride.” But his reaction to the mishap is what has turned this from simple blooper to beloved Bananas lore. He owned it. He joked about it. He even posted about it on Instagram, saying he gives people “permission to laugh.”

 

In classic Savannah Bananas fashion, this moment only amplified his—and the team’s—reach. Their brand thrives on unpredictability, fun, and engaging audiences beyond just the scoreboard. Every game, every interview is part of the show. Cruz’s fall was cringe‑worthy in all the right ways: embarrassing, yes, but also endearingly human. It went viral, not because he failed, but because he carried it with humility and humor.

 

Cruz is a reminder that performance is as much about how you pick yourself up as about your skills. For fans, this incident added to his persona—Coach RAC isn’t just a spectacle, he’s also someone who can take a hit (literally) and make it part of the act. That’s turned him into one of the breakout stars of Banana Ball, and the kind of moment people will remember.