For Miller, it becomes his third year as a member of the staff for the Cutters, with the former college standout and minor league sustainer retaining his role as the hitting coach for a second straight year.

“It was 100% an easy yes (when they asked me to come back),” discussed Miller during Sunday’s media day session. “I told Kenny (Thomas) if he’s coming back, I’m coming back. That’s how it goes.”

Miller, in addition to Thomas, are members of the 2024 coaching staff that guided the Crosscutters to their first MLB Draft League title. Promoted to hitting coach in 2025, Miller coached up Williamsport bats with the team batting .249 at the plate with a .696 OPS throughout the season. Highlights from the Cutters’ offense last year included 19 triples and 362 walks, which ranked second and fourth in the MLB Draft League in the previous campaign, respectively.

“Doing it a few times before makes it easier,” echoed Miller. “It’s only six weeks in the first half, so (I’m) try to help them through that. They are not used to playing every day like that, so I’m trying to guide them through that.”

Manager Kenny Thomas of the Crosscutters talks with hitting coach Sean Miller during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But not all is the same with the instructors this season. Over the winter, it was announced that Anthony Macon would complete the staff as the team’s pitching coach.

“I always wanted to come to Williamsport,” Macon said during media day. “I have a son, and I wanted to bring him here. He was one game away from earning a spot to the Little League World Series last year in Texas.”

“I always wanted to ride the cardboard down the hill,” Macon chuckled. “So, at some point, you may see me out there flipping around and rolling.”

Similar to Thomas, Macon’s experience is primarily held in the college ranks. Residing in Katy, Texas, Macon comes to Williamsport from Prairie View A&M where the Texan served as a pitching coach from 2021-25. The Panthers saw modest success in the five years with Macon on board, posting winning conference records in four campaigns with a highlight 30-27 overall record in the 2022 slate.

Pitching would be a net positive for Prairie View A&M under the guidance of Macon, with the SWAC school posting a team average ERA in the top-half of the conference in four of the five years under the tutelage of Macon. Even in his final year in 2025, which saw the program go a dreary 17-36, the Panthers still ranked sixth in team ERA with a batting averaging allowed of .289 ranking fourth-best in the SWAC.

Anthony “Happy” Macon of the Crosscutters pauses for a moment as he throws during batting practice during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“(I look at) athleticism first,” Macon broke down when eyeing a pitcher. “There are pitchers out there that are good, but that are too mechanical. … When you know the athleticism from being a football, basketball, baseball player, athletes are at their best when they are at their most athletic.”

“One thing I like to watch with players is long toss,” Macon continued. “You can fix a lot of things from a toss and it’s easier to go 300 feet, build the arm strength, then try to build at 60 feet, 6 inches.”

Overall, pitching will be a catalyst for success in Williamsport. In the Cutters’ first-half championship in 2024, Williamsport posted a top-half pitching staff that led to a championship berth. In 2025, Williamsport posted bottom-half team pitching stats in ERA (5.41), batting average allowed (.268) and home runs allowed (33).

“The MLB Draft League to me is like the best of the best,” said Macon. “You also have Cape Cod, but you’ve got these guys, these guys are fuming. They are looking for their next chance. And me? I’m looking for my next chance. So next chance working with next chance is gonna be a great summer.”

The Crosscutters kick off their 2026 campaign on Tuesday with a three-game series against the defending champion West Virginia Black Bears at Bowman Field at 6:35 p.m.

Pitching coach Anthony Macon of the Crosscutters watches during Media Day batting practice at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette