The Macon Bacon is a Georgia based wood-bat collegiate summer baseball team that began playing in the Coastal Plain League (CPL) in 2018. They have appeared in the league playoffs twice, and finished as the runner-up after a Championship appearance in their second season.
History In 2017, the Macon-Bibb County Commission announced that a Coastal Plain League franchise would be coming to Macon. It would be owned by sports marketing firm SRO Partners, and would begin play in the 2018 season. On July 6, 2017, SRO Partners and Macon-Bibb County signed a ten-year lease agreement for Luther Williams Field through December 31, 2027. In August 2024, it was announced that the lease had been extended through 2037.
Later in 2017, a contest was announced to select a name for the team. After receiving over 1,500 submissions, five finalists were selected: Macon Bacon, Macon Soul, Macon Hits, Macon Heat, and Macon Noise. A vote was held, with the name Macon Bacon being announced as the winner.
In November 2023, owner Steve Delay announced on LinkedIn that the team was being put up for sale. In August 2024 it was announced the purchase of the team was completed to Macon Bacon Baseball LLC which includes Managing Partner Brandon Raphael, and local investors Dr. Daniel Erthal, Ron Shipman, and Jonathan Pitts.
Location The team is based in Macon, Georgia and plays its home games at Luther Williams Field in Macon.
Prior to the inaugural 2018 season, the team announced plans to complete major renovations and updates to Luther Williams Field, in partnership with Macon-Bibb County. At a cost of approximately $2.5 million, the renovations would be funded by revenue from the 2016 Special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST).
Further changes were made before the 2019 season and before the 2020 season.
Coaching staff Danny Higginbotham managed the team for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. At the end of the 2019 season, he announced plans to leave the team after being named as an Assistant Coach at Des Moines Area Community College. On September 10, 2019, the team named Jimmy Turk, an assistant coach at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona as the new manager. On October 2, 2020, the team announced that Kyle MacKinnon had been named the head coach for the 2021 season. On September 21, 2021, the team named former assistant coach Kevin Soine the head coach for the 2022 season.
Attendance In 2018, the team was named the Coastal Plain League's Organization of the year after selling out 11 of 23 home games. It finished the 2018 season 2nd in attendance in the Coastal Plain League and 10th overall for the entire summer league, with an estimated home total attendance count of over 47,000.
Yearly records SeasonManagerRecord2018Danny Higginbotham22–252019Danny Higginbotham29–212020Jimmy Turk24–252021Kyle MacKinnon15–262022Kevin Soine24–242023Easton Waterman24–222024Daniel Duarte17–312025Easton Waterman17-272026Jesse Litsch33-20Overall Record:205–221
Players in the pros These former players have been selected in the MLB draft or have gone on to sign contracts with professional baseball teams:
PlayerSchoolDraftedDrafted/Signed withSeason(s) with BaconMajor League Debut1Dylan SpackeGeorgiaRound 21, 647th overall (2019)Boston Red Sox20182Matthew MinnickLong Beach StateRound 23, 705th overall (2019)New York Yankees20183Riley KingMercyhurstRound 26, 787th overall (2019)Atlanta Braves20184Keaton WeiszCoastal CarolinaRound 36, 1081st overall (2019)Los Angeles Angels20185MJ RookardMiddle Georgia State UniversityUndraftedGary RailCats (Independent)20196Zach McCamblyCoastal CarolinaRound 3, 75th overall (2020)Miami Marlins20187Zach CornellMiddle Georgia State UniversityUndraftedWashington Nationals20198Fraser EllardLiberty UniversityRound 8, 245th overall (2021)Chicago White Sox2020July 20, 20249Matt LitwickiIndiana UniversityRound 10, 286th overall (2021)Boston Red Sox202010Jack SinclairUniversity of Central FloridaRound 16, 473rd overall (2021)Washington Nationals202011Josh HoodUniversity of PennsylvaniaRound 20, 586th overall (2021) Round 6, 186th overall (2022)Boston Red Sox Seattle Mariners202012Collin PriceMercer UniversityRound 6, 193rd overall (2022)Houston Astros202013John Michael BertrandNotre DameRound 10, 316th overall (2022)San Francisco Giants201814Garrett BrownGeorgiaRound 18, 533rd overall (2022)Chicago White Sox201915Austin EmenerETSURound 16, 472nd overall (2023)Colorado Rockies202216Patrick ClohisySaint Louis UniversityRound 11, 341st overall (2024)Atlanta Braves202317JR FreethyUniversity of NevadaRound 14, 427th overall (2024)Toronto Blue Jays202318Kasen WellsWeatherford CollegeRound 16, 480th overall (2024)San Diego Padres202419Nolan CliffordCreighton UniversityRound 17, 498th overall (2024)Colorado Rockies2023
Post-season appearances During their first season in 2018, the team advanced to the league playoffs. On August 5, they were eliminated in the first round after a 4–15 loss to the Savannah Bananas.
In the 2019 season, the team advanced to the League Championship, the Petitt Cup, for the first time, where they faced the Morehead City Marlins in a 3-game series for the Petitt Cup, where they finished as the runner up, losing by a margin of 1–2. Game 1 of the series resulted in a 3–0 loss to Morehead City. In game 2, Macon scored an 11–4 victory over Morehead City. Game 3 resulted in a 2–6 loss by Macon to Morehead City.
During the abbreviated 2020 season, the team advanced to the Coastal Plain League Championship, where they defeated the Savannah Bananas with a score of 6–5.
In the 2026 season, Macon advanced to the Petitt Cup Championship for second time after defeating the Forest City Owls in the West Divisional Championship. Macon would win game 1 of the championship series at home in a thrilling 3-2 victory. Macon would then head to Wilmington for game 2 and 3 to where in game 2 the Bacon would fall after a late comeback from the Sharks, losing 8-7. Finally in game 3 Macon was outscored 11-0 to lose the game and the series, finishing as the season runner-ups.
References
External links Macon Bacon Coastal Plain League