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.
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. The ruling officially brought an end to the Jackrabbits.
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. 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.
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.
Seasons Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Prospect League Season Manager Record Win % League Division GB Post-season record Post-season win % Post-season result Notes 2015 Greg Van Horn 30–30 .500 6th 3rd 13.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify Inaugural season 2016 Matt Howard 31–29 .517 7th 2nd 3.5 0–2 .000 Lost East Division Championship (West Virginia) 2017 Gary McClure 27–33 .450 8th 5th 10.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify 2018 Gary McClure 37–22 .627 1st 1st – 2–3 .400 Won East Division Championship (Chillicothe) Lost Prospect League Championship (Terre Haute) Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Northwoods League Season Manager Record Win % League Division GB Post-season record Post-season win % Post-season result Notes 2019 Hayden Carter 29–42 .408 20th 5th 22.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify First season in the Northwoods League 2020 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021 Hayden Carter 45–27 .625 4th 1st – 1–2 .333 Lost Great Lakes East Division Championship (Traverse City) 2022 Michael Lieberman / Colton Hann 19–52 .268 20th 6th 25.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify 2023 Johnston Hobbs 27–45 .375 21st 5th 20.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify 2024 Johnston Hobbs 22–50 .306 25th 7th 25.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify Final season Totals 267–330 .447 3–7 .300
Coaches On October 20, 2014, Greg Van Horn was named the first Field Manager in Jackrabbits history. 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. 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 Year Player Position College Drafting TeamRound2021Denzel Clarke OutfielderCalifornia State University, NorthridgeOakland Athletics4th round2021Evan Elliott PitcherLethbridge Community CollegeTexas Rangers15th round2022Chase Meidroth InfielderUniversity of San DiegoBoston Red Sox4th round2022Jakob Marsee OutfielderCentral Michigan UniversitySan Diego Padres6th round2022Adam Crampton InfielderStanford UniversityBaltimore Orioles9th round2022Chris Santiago Infielder/PitcherSaint Mary's College of CaliforniaNew York Mets18th round2023T. J. Fondtain PitcherSan Diego State UniversityTampa Bay Rays14th round2023Rio Britton PitcherNorth Carolina State UniversityArizona Diamondbacks15th round2023Hector Garcia PitcherHope International UniversityMinnesota Twins18th round2023Bayden Root PitcherOklahoma State UniversityMilwaukee BrewersUndrafted free agent2024Michael Snyder InfielderUniversity of OklahomaMiami Marlins10th round2024Jon Jon Gazdar InfielderAustin Peay State UniversitySt. Louis Cardinals11th round2025Payton Graham PitcherGonzaga UniversitySt. Louis Cardinals7th round2025Jack Moroknek OutfielderButler UniversityWashington Nationals11th round Bold indicates that player has made their MLB debut.
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