Savannah Banana's greatest connection is with his Manatee County family

Raised in Bradenton and drafted after playing baseball at Manatee High School, Correlle Prime is following a not-so-traditional path.

Prime is living the life of "Banana Ball” as a member of the Savannah Bananas, who are known for their entertaining, party-like atmosphere. They could be compared to the Harlem Globetrotters, only on the baseball diamond.

To Jessie Rey Bock, Correlle’s fiancé, no matter the scripted movements — aka the dances — he still is mainly a baseball player. 

“He's had to learn, not only how to dance, but also to let loose in front of that many people,” Bock said. “It's cool, because he's still getting to play baseball and having that competition. There are some times when he busts out a dance move, and I'm like ‘Oh my gosh, what are we watching?’”

Corey Prime, the couple's 8-year-old and one of their three children, enjoys dad's antics.

“It’s funny and goofy and I can’t help but laugh when he messes up,” Corey said. 

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Correlle met Jessie while they were attending Manatee High and they have been together for 15 years. Along with Corey, they have 3-year-old Crew and 7-month-old Coco. 

It's all fun, but it does create a different dynamic for Jessie, who will be a kindergarten teacher at the new Lake Manatee K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch when it opens in August. 

Correlle's job is far from a normal 9-to-5 routine with much of his time spent traveling to perform in stadiums around the country.

He knows his children miss having their father at home.

“Corey's like ‘No dad, you have to play, you've got to go play. It's so cool, I love watching you do it,’” Correlle said. “That makes it that much easier. The support we have at home is second-to-none. I’m very blessed and grateful to be able to do what I’m able to do.” 

Corey, who will attend Lake Manatee K-8, said his dad, even when he is on the road, inspires him. 

“When my dad comes home for a few days, I am always happy and we get to spend time golfing together,” he said.

Correlle said Corey even gives him advice about new trends, slang, and even dance moves so he can connect with kids.

“He inspires me the same way I inspire him," Correlle said. "I think that’s how it should be and I hope it’s the same way moving forward.”

Jessie said Correlle is consistent about his routine when traveling.

“With him being away, he's always incredibly supportive — always present, whether that's FaceTiming before a game, or sometimes even during a game, to show the kids what’s going on,” Jessie said.

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Jessie said Corey understands that being a baseball player is not a “normal” job. 

“I don’t brag to my friends, but I tell them about it and some of them go crazy and always ask ‘how can I meet him?’” Corey said. 

Correlle said it helps that the Bananas are geared toward children and families.

“We’re just goofing off and having fun on the baseball field,” he said.

Jessie said communication is the key to maintaining a great relationship when he is touring.

“The amount of times I FaceTime him a day ... he probably is like, okay, chill,” Jessie said. “We miss him a lot when he's gone, but I think it's all what you make of it. He's out there doing what he loves.” 

Correlle said it has become a normal way of life for his family.

“It’s something we’ve grown accustomed to," he said. "We have our routines — thank goodness for FaceTime. I always tell people you’re a little more intentional with your time when you're away, so we’re able to connect and bond on different levels than you would be able to at home with all the distractions and toys and loud crazy noises.” 

When Correlle is on the road, Jessie said she gets great help in raising the kids by her mother, Paula Keegan-Bock, and Correlle’s mother, Debra Brooks. Brooks is retired and lives with the family. Jesse said that has been a blessing. 

“I think it is how it was designed to be for us and I’m extremely grateful we can all comfortably get along and the kids can have that whole support system,” Correlle said.

The game days are long for Correlle, but he said the core value within the company is to interact with the fans, which he enjoys. 

Jessie said, although Correlle enjoys it, it can take a toll as well.

“Correlle is exhausted after games because they're entertaining hours before their actual game time,” Jessie said. “They're meeting with fans who might have waited years to go see them play. They're taking pictures with little kids and giving autographs.”

Jessie said Correlle has had a huge influence on her in the way he goes about life. 

“He just makes it look easy, all without taking anything too serious,” Jessie said. “He's just always having fun and trying to make a difference in somebody somewhere.” 

Since being a part of the Savannah Bananas, Correlle has had more time to travel back and spend time with his family compared to his time in Minor League Baseball.

“This has been a nice change with it being a little bit closer to Florida, with less games and a little bit more flexibility,” Jessie said. “It's been nice for our family, and especially for our kids.”

Jessie said both of their careers make her proud, and she is looking forward to starting her new job at Lake Manatee K-8. 

“I want to be that kind of teacher, someone who helps students feel capable and valued, even when the learning gets hard, because academics are hard these days,” she said. 

They continue to be each other's "best support system."

“He's still a dad and part of our family,” Jessie said. “We're learning to embrace the balance of not being together all the time, and simply enjoying the ride.”