Jayson Arendt might not be wearing a UNCW baseball uniform anymore, but the 24-year-old is still hitting home runs, just in a very different arena.

Arendt stepped into the national spotlight Monday, Jan. 26, not for what he could do with a bat in his hands, but for what he could do with a microphone. His audition aired during the season premiere of the 24th season of American Idol, marking a new chapter for a former Seahawk whose competitive edge has never really gone away.

Now a member of the Texas Tailgaters, a team in the Banana Ball League, Arendt brought some familiar company with him. Several of his Tailgaters teammates joined him for the audition as he performed Chris Stapleton’s Fire Away, a choice that leaned into the raw, country sound he has been developing over the past few years. The performance resonated with judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood, who all gave Arendt their approval, sending him through to the next round.

Before the lights of American Idol, Arendt spent two seasons at UNCW, playing his junior and senior years from 2023-24. A Fuquay-Varina native, he served as a utility player for the Seahawks and drove in three runs during his senior campaign. Baseball was the focus, but music was already pulling at him.

Arendt officially began his music career in 2023 with the release of Like a Small Town, a song rooted in the same small-town themes that shaped both his upbringing and his athletic journey.

<p class=”gnt_ar_b_p”>The Texas Tailgaters were introduced in October 2024 as a new team in the Banana Ball Championship League. Arendt joined the team for its inaugural 2025 season, appearing on the roster as an outfielder and entertainer.

In November 2025, Arendt was re-signed for another season as an “Entertainment Player,” a position that specializes in fan engagement and musical performance alongside his baseball duties.