Kokomo Jackrabbits

Kokomo Jackrabbits
Information
League	Northwoods League  (Great Lakes East 2019-pres)
Location	Kokomo, Indiana
Ballpark	Kokomo Municipal Stadium
Founded	2014
Playoff berths	2 (2016, 2018)
Last season	31-29
Former league(s)	Prospect League
Colors	Yellow, Orange, Brown
Ownership	Michael Zimmerman
Management	Roc Ventures
General manager	Nathan Martin [1]
Media	Facebook Twitter
Website	www.kokomojackrabbits.com
Current uniforms
Home Away

The Kokomo Jackrabbits are an inactive college summer baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana. They are a member of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, beginning with the 2019 season. Previously, the team played in the Prospect League. ^[2] The Jackrabbits play at the 4,000-seat Kokomo Municipal Stadium in downtown Kokomo. The Jackrabbits will not play in 2025 while the team ownership and the city of Kokomo are in court over a contract dispute. ^[3]

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. ^[4] 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. ^[5]

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. ^[6]

Seasons

The Jackrabbits have canceled their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[7] [8]}

Season	Manager	Record	Win %	League	Division	GB	Post-season record	Post-season win %	Post-season result	Notes
2016	Greg VanHorn/ Matt Howard	31–29	.517	6th	2nd	3.5	0–2	.000	Lost Eastern Division championship series
2017	Gary McClure	27–33	.450	7th	5th	10.0	–	-
2018	Gary McClure	37–22	.627	1st	1st	0.0	2-3	.400	Lost Prospect League championship series
Prospect League totals		95-84	.531				2-5	.286
2019	Hayden Carter	29-42	.408	20th	5th	22.5	_	_		Inaugural season in the Northwoods League
2020	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	Did not compete due to COVID-19
2021

Coaches

On October 20, 2014, Greg Van Horn was named the first Field Manager in Jackrabbits history. ^[9] 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. ^[10] 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 in the MLB

Kokomo Jackrabbits in MLB Draft
Year	Player	Position	College	Drafting Team	Round
2021	Denzel Clarke	Outfielder	California State University, Northridge	Oakland Athletics	4th round
2021	Evan Elliott	Pitcher	Lethbridge Community College	Texas Rangers	15th round
2022	Chase Meidroth	Infielder	University of San Diego	Boston Red Sox	4th round
2022	Jakob Marsee	Outfielder	Central Michigan University	San Diego Padres	6th round
2022	Adam Crampton	Infielder	Stanford University	Baltimore Orioles	9th round
2022	Chris Santiago	Infielder/Pitcher	Saint Mary's College of California	New York Mets	18th round
2023	T. J. Fondtain	Pitcher	San Diego State University	Tampa Bay Rays	14th round
2023	Rio Britton	Pitcher	North Carolina State University	Arizona Diamondbacks	15th round
2023	Hector Garcia	Pitcher	Hope International University	Minnesota Twins	18th round
2023	Bayden Root	Pitcher	Oklahoma State University	Milwaukee Brewers	Undrafted free agent
2024	Michael Snyder	Infielder	University of Oklahoma	Miami Marlins	10th round
2024	Jon Jon Gazdar	Infielder	Austin Peay State University	St. Louis Cardinals	11th round

Bold indicates that player has made their MLB debut.

References

1. "Front Office Staff". Kokomo Jackrabbits. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
2. Spedden, Zach (July 5, 2018). "Jackrabbits Shifting to Northwoods League". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
3. Durham, Spencer (January 3, 2025). "Kokomo Jackrabbits pull the plug on 2025 season". Kokomo Tribune . Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Yahoo News.
4. "MKE Sports & Entertainment Unveils Kokomo Baseball Team Name and Logo, Introduces Field Manager" (Press release). Ballpark Business. October 20, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
5. 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.
6. "Jackrabbits Go 1980s Retro Padres with Unis". Ballpark Business (ballparkbiz.com). October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
7. "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.
8. Velazco, Pedro (June 17, 2020). "Mayor: Kokomo Jackrabbits decide not play in 2020". Kokomo Tribune . Retrieved June 23, 2020.
9. Munsey, Pat (October 21, 2014). "Baseball team name, coach announced". Kokomo Perspective . Retrieved December 7, 2018.
10. Saluke, Mark (May 27, 2017). "Jackrabbits Ready to Roll". Kokomo Tribune . Retrieved December 7, 2018.