By John Clark
Clarkton native Macon Hammond has been selected to umpire the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures game Saturday and the Major League Baseball T-Mobile Home Run Derby Monday as part of All-Star Week in Seattle.
Hammond has served this season as the crew chief for his umpiring crew in the Class AA Southern League. All 4 of the Futures Game umpires have worked this season in Class AA.
“It is very humbling to get this opportunity,” said Hammond. “There are a lot of deserving people. I am really blessed and thankful.”
The West Bladen grad will travel to Seattle Thursday and will umpire 3rd base Friday night in the MLB/USA Baseball All-America Game for high school players. Saturday morning Hammond and the other Futures umpires will work the High School Home Run Derby.
The Futures game is MLB’s annual showcase of the sport’s best big-league prospects, some of whom may be called up to the major leagues later this season. Hammond will be the plate umpire for the Futures game that will be televised on MLB Network and Peacock at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday Hammond and his Futures game crew will be on hand for a rehearsal in preparation for Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby. He shared that one umpire will be behind the plate during the derby to signal the pitcher when to throw the next pitch, and the other 3 umpires will be in the outfield to signal legitimate home runs and look for things such as fan interference.
The Home Run Derby will be televised Monday, July 10th at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be Tuesday. July 11th on Fox at 8 p.m. Hammond and his crew will get to attend the All-Star Game.
Larry and Beth Hammond, Macon’s parents, and his sister, Kelsey, will travel to Seattle and be with him for the All-Star festivities. “That makes it even more special that my family will be there to see me work and be with me,” shared Hammond. “Being with my family and being with the guys will make it unforgettable.”
Hammond was called up this past week to fill in and work the first Class AAA games of his career in Jacksonville, FL. “That was a lot of fun. It’s a different game at that level,” he said. “You can definitely tell the players have had more seasoning.”
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