Kokomo Jackrabbits

Kokomo Jackrabbits

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Information
LeagueNorthwoods League (2019–2024) (Great Lakes Division – East)
LocationKokomo, Indiana
BallparkKokomo Municipal Stadium
Founded2014
Folded2025
League championships0
Division championships1 (2018)
Former leagueProspect League (2014–2018)
ColorsBrown, orange, yellow, white, gray[1]
         
OwnershipMichael Zimmerman
ManagementRoc Ventures
General managerNathan Martin[2]
Current uniforms
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The Kokomo Jackrabbits were a collegiate summer league baseball team of the Northwoods League. They were based in Kokomo, Indiana and played their home games at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Before joining the Northwoods League, the Jackrabbits played in the Prospect League.[3]

The Jackrabbits dissolved after the 2024 season due to a legal battle between the city of Kokomo and the ownership of the Jackrabbits, Kokomo Baseball LLC, which ultimately ended with a judge ruling in favor of the city of Kokomo.[4][5][6][7] The ruling officially brought an end to the Jackrabbits.[8]

Namesake

Kokomo's baseball team went through a naming contest in the summer of 2014 before landing on the winning name of "Jackrabbits." Of around 1,000 entries in the online naming campaign, 15 people suggested the name "Jackrabbit" for Kokomo's Prospect League team.[9] The name is the same as a popular automobile developed by the Apperson Brothers in a building adjacent to where Kokomo Municipal Stadium now stands.[10]

Colors & uniform

The Kokomo Jackrabbits have adopted a look that is reminiscent of the San Diego Padres uniforms during the 1970s and 1980s with brown, mustard and orange colors.[11]

Seasons

Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Prospect League
SeasonManagerRecordWin %LeagueDivisionGBPost-season recordPost-season win %Post-season resultNotes
2015Greg Van Horn30–30.5006th3rd13.00–0.000Did not qualifyInaugural season
2016Matt Howard31–29.5177th2nd3.50–2.000Lost East Division Championship (West Virginia)
2017Gary McClure27–33.4508th5th10.00–0.000Did not qualify
2018Gary McClure37–22.6271st1st–2–3.400Won East Division Championship (Chillicothe)
Lost Prospect League Championship (Terre Haute)
Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Northwoods League
SeasonManagerRecordWin %LeagueDivisionGBPost-season recordPost-season win %Post-season resultNotes
2019Hayden Carter29–42.40820th5th22.50–0.000Did not qualifyFirst season in the Northwoods League
2020Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[12][13]
2021Hayden Carter45–27.6254th1st–1–2.333Lost Great Lakes East Division Championship (Traverse City)
2022Michael Lieberman / Colton Hann19–52.26820th6th25.50–0.000Did not qualify
2023Johnston Hobbs27–45.37521st5th20.00–0.000Did not qualify
2024Johnston Hobbs22–50.30625th7th25.00–0.000Did not qualifyFinal season
Totals267–330.4473–7.300

Coaches

On October 20, 2014, Greg Van Horn was named the first Field Manager in Jackrabbits history.[14] After a tumultuous first thirty games to the 2015 season (in which he was ejected three times), Van Horn was relieved of his duties by Matt Howard, who remained in place for the 2016 season.

Howard lead the Jackrabbits to a 46–45 record across his one and a half seasons. Howard then moved on to accept the same position at Indiana University Kokomo, where he became the baseball team's first field manager in school history.

The Jackrabbits then hired former Austin Peay coach and all time Ohio Valley Conference wins leader Gary McClure.[15] McClure posted a 64–55 (.538) record in his two seasons with the club. After leading the team to the Prospect League Championship Series in the 2018 season, it was announced that McClure would be taking over as the first manager of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball expansion team, the Milwaukee Milkmen (also owned by the Jackrabbits' parent company, ROC Ventures).

In 2022 Johnston Hobbs was hired by Nathan Martin, the general manager. Martin won general manager of the year for Indiana Northwoods League teams.

Jackrabbits drafted by MLB teams

Kokomo Jackrabbits in MLB Draft
YearPlayerPositionCollege Drafting Team Round
2021Denzel ClarkeOutfielderCalifornia State University, Northridge Oakland Athletics 4th round
2021Evan ElliottPitcherLethbridge Community College Texas Rangers 15th round
2022Chase MeidrothInfielderUniversity of San Diego Boston Red Sox 4th round
2022Jakob MarseeOutfielderCentral Michigan University San Diego Padres 6th round
2022Adam CramptonInfielderStanford University Baltimore Orioles 9th round
2022Chris SantiagoInfielder/PitcherSaint Mary's College of California New York Mets 18th round
2023T. J. FondtainPitcherSan Diego State University Tampa Bay Rays 14th round
2023Rio BrittonPitcherNorth Carolina State University Arizona Diamondbacks 15th round
2023Hector GarciaPitcherHope International University Minnesota Twins 18th round
2023Bayden RootPitcherOklahoma State University Milwaukee Brewers Undrafted free agent
2024Michael SnyderInfielderUniversity of Oklahoma Miami Marlins 10th round
2024Jon Jon GazdarInfielderAustin Peay State University St. Louis Cardinals 11th round
2025Payton GrahamPitcherGonzaga University St. Louis Cardinals 7th round
2025Jack MoroknekOutfielderButler University Washington Nationals 11th round

Bold indicates that player has made their MLB debut.

References

  1. ↑ "Northwoods League Official Colors (1994 through present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Front Office Staff". Kokomo Jackrabbits. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ Spedden, Zach (July 5, 2018). "Jackrabbits Shifting to Northwoods League". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ Durham, Spencer (January 3, 2025). "Kokomo Jackrabbits pull the plug on 2025 season". Kokomo Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
  5. ↑ "Kokomo Jackrabbits cancel 2025 season amid legal drama". www.insideindianabusiness.com. January 6, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Decision on Jackrabbits expected in coming weeks". sports.yahoo.com. January 31, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Judge rules in favor of city in Kokomo Jackrabbits dispute". www.kokomotribune.com. February 26, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Jackrabbits are hasenpfeffer". kokomolantern.substack.com. February 26, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ "MKE Sports & Entertainment Unveils Kokomo Baseball Team Name and Logo, Introduces Field Manager" (Press release). Ballpark Business. October 20, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ Lance (July 13, 2011). "Apperson Brothers Automobile Company (1902–1926)". Lances Car Site. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Jackrabbits Go 1980s Retro Padres with Unis". Ballpark Business (ballparkbiz.com). October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Kokomo Jackrabbits". Facebook. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020. We are reaching out to ticket holders and sponsors regarding this years season cancellation and starting to plan for 2021. While there is no Jackrabbits season in 2020, we are working to still have plenty of baseball being played at Kokomo Municipal Stadium this summer.
  13. ↑ Velazco, Pedro (June 17, 2020). "Mayor: Kokomo Jackrabbits decide not play in 2020". Kokomo Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ Munsey, Pat (October 21, 2014). "Baseball team name, coach announced". Kokomo Perspective. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  15. ↑ Saluke, Mark (May 27, 2017). "Jackrabbits Ready to Roll". Kokomo Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
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