Decatur Bean Ballers
| Decatur Bean Ballers | |
|---|---|
Logo | |
| Information | |
| League | Prospect League (Eastern Conference – Central Division) |
| Location | Decatur, Illinois |
| Ballpark | Workman Family Baseball Field |
| Founded | 2026 |
| League championships | 0 |
| Division championships | 0 |
| Colors | Navy, light blue, light green, tan, white |
| Ownership | Golden Rule Entertainment & Jamie Toole[1] |
| General manager | Jacob Watkins[2] |
| Manager | Gabe Arroyo |
| Website | beanballers |
The Decatur Bean Ballers are a collegiate summer league baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Decatur, Illinois, and play their home games at Workman Family Baseball Field. The Bean Ballers and other collegiate summer leagues and teams exist to give top college players a professional-like experience without affecting NCAA eligibility.
The Bean Ballers play in the Prospect League's Eastern Conference – Central Division along with the Danville Dans, Dubois County Bombers, Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, and Terre Haute Rex.[3]
History
Decatur's latest professional baseball team was the Decatur Commodores, a professional minor league Class A affiliate from its inception in 1900 to its folding in 1974. The Commodores served as a minor league affiliate to the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, and San Francisco Giants during their existence as a franchise. However, after the 1974 season, the Commodores ended up relocating to Wausau, Wisconsin to become the Wausau Mets.[4][5] Eventually, that same franchise would move to Geneva, Illinois, to become the Kane County Cougars.[6] The relocation of the Commodores left the city of Decatur without a team.
After that, the city of Decatur had a franchise in the Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) called the Decatur Blues that played from the inception of the franchise in 1986 to its folding in 2003.[7]
After over two decades without a ball club, on November 24, 2025, the Prospect League announced that a franchise had been awarded to the city of Decatur, with Golden Rule Entertainment and Jamie Toole as the owners of the team.[8][9][10]
On February 17, 2026, the team was officially named the Bean Ballers.[11][12]
Stadium
The Bean Ballers play at Workman Family Baseball Field, a 459-seat facility owned and operated by Millikin University.[13][14] The facility was built in 2019 and is located at 1271 W Decatur St in Decatur.[15]
Seasons
| Season | Manager | Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Post-season record | Post-season win % | Post-season result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Gabe Arroyo | 0–0 | – | – | – | – | 0–0 | – | – | Inaugural season |
| Totals | 0–0 | .000 | 0–0 | .000 |
Roster
| Active roster | Coaching staff |
|---|---|
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Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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References
- ^ "The Decatur Bean Ballers: what we know about the newest Prospect League baseball team". www.foxillinois.com. February 19, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "What to know about the Decatur Bean Ballers ahead of the season opener". www.wandtv.com. April 17, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "2026 Prospect League Standings – Prospect League Baseball". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ^ "Your Town Wausau: Athletic Park's historic presence in Wausau". www.wsaw.com. December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "A brief history of the Wausau Timbers". www.lookoutlanding.com. April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Franchise History". Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Millikin Exploring Prospect League Opportunity". athletics.millikin.edu. May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ^ "Prospect League Announces 20th Franchise in Decatur, Illinois". prospectleague.com. November 24, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Decatur Lands Prospect League Franchise for 2026 Season". www.stadiumjourney.com. November 25, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Decatur Baseball Club Launches "Name Decatur's Team" Community Campaign". www.newschannel20.com. November 24, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Decatur's newest baseball club: the Decatur Bean Ballers!". www.decaturil.gov. February 17, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Say hello to Decatur's new baseball club: the Bean Ballers". www.wandtv.com. February 17, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Play Ball: The Workman Baseball Field is Finally Ready". decaturian.com. October 1, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Workman Family Baseball Field". Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Decatur Baseball". Retrieved April 29, 2026.