Mississippi Mud Monsters

Mississippi Mud Monsters
Logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2025–present) (West Division)
LocationPearl, Mississippi
BallparkTrustmark Park (2025–present)
Founded2025
ColorsDeep teal, murky aquamarine, cypress green, phantom mint, pirate gold, black[1]
           
OwnershipJoseph Eng
General managerAndrew Seymour
ManagerJay Pecci
MediaHomeTeam Network
Websitemudmonstersbaseball.com

The Mississippi Mud Monsters are a professional baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, that competes in the Frontier League as a member of the West Division in the Midwest Conference. They play their home games at Trustmark Park, which was previously the home of the Mississippi Braves, the former Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, from 2005 to 2024.

History

Background and formation

On September 9, 2024, the Frontier League, a Major League Baseball Partner League, announced that it had awarded an expansion franchise to Pearl, Mississippi, following the Mississippi Braves' previously announced relocation to Columbus, Georgia.[2] The announcement ensured that professional baseball would continue at Trustmark Park after 20 seasons of Mississippi Braves baseball.[3]

The franchise was initially announced under the placeholder name "On Deck 2025" while a public name-the-team contest was conducted.[4] Joseph Eng was announced as the team's owner.[5] David Kerr was named assistant general manager in October 2024, with responsibilities including sales, marketing, and fan engagement.[6] Andrew Seymour was named general manager in December 2024.[5]

In October 2024, the Mud Monsters announced their inaugural 2025 schedule. The team was scheduled to open play at Trustmark Park against the Florence Y'alls on May 8, as part of a 96-game season that included 48 home games across nine homestands.[7]

Name and branding

Monsters wordmark

Fans were given three choices in the team's name-the-team contest: "Mississippi Mud Monsters", "Mississippi Grits", and "Mississippi Soul Shakers".[8][4][9] The contest ran from September 9 through September 26, 2024.[4] On September 27, the team announced that "Mud Monsters" had won the vote with more than 5,600 votes.[10] The team's logo was revealed on October 10, with a catfish as the primary mark.[11] The team's official color palette includes Deep Teal, Murky Aquamarine, Cypress Green, Phantom Mint, Pirate Gold, and black.[1]

Example of the Mud Monsters' "Creature Flow" uniform number style

In April 2025, the Mud Monsters unveiled their inaugural uniforms. The initial set included teal, white, and black jersey options, three matching pant options, and two hat choices, allowing for 18 uniform combinations.[1] The uniforms included a custom number style called "Creature Flow", which featured drip-like forms designed to match the team's branding.[1] In 2025, the Cirlot Agency's work for the Mississippi Mud Monsters was named a finalist in the Community Relations category of PR Daily's Media Relations Awards.[12]

In April 2026, the team launched an online team store that sold Mud Monsters merchandise.[13]

Ballpark partnerships

In January 2025, the Mud Monsters and Belhaven University announced a partnership for Trustmark Park to serve as the home of Belhaven Blazers baseball from 2025 through 2030. Under the agreement, Belhaven's NCAA Division III baseball team would use Trustmark Park for games, practices, and showcases.[14]

Trustmark Park operations and events

In September 2025, the Mud Monsters announced that Trustmark Park would replace its infield dirt and grass with synthetic turf. The organization said Spectrum Entertainment would install Major Play Matrix synthetic turf covering more than 40,000 square feet.[15] The turf project followed several rainouts and field-condition issues at the ballpark, including an Ole Miss-Southern Miss game in 2023 that was cancelled during play because of infield sod conditions.[15] General manager Andrew Seymour said the new infield would help reduce rain delays and make the venue more usable for concerts, showcases, and community events.[16]

During the Mud Monsters' first year operating Trustmark Park, the ballpark hosted additional community and non-baseball events, including Main Street Pearl's Oktoberfest during the day and MonstoBEERfest, a ticketed beer festival, that evening.[17][18] Later that year, Trustmark Park hosted The Southern Lights, a walk-through holiday attraction featuring more than 2.5 million lights, real-ice skating, fire pits, and train rides.[19][20][21]

In 2026, Trustmark Park was selected to host the MLB HBCU Power Series, a multi-day historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) baseball showcase held in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The series, held from February 12–15, included Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Grambling State, Jackson State, and Alcorn State.[22]

The 2026 Mississippi Farm Bureau Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park drew 8,223 fans and was announced as a sellout.[23]

Inaugural season

On January 13, 2025, the Mud Monsters announced Jay Pecci as their inaugural field manager.[24] The first player announced by the franchise was outfielder Brayland Skinner, a Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, native and former Mississippi State Bulldogs player who was part of the team's 2021 national championship.[25]

The Mud Monsters played their inaugural game at Trustmark Park on May 8, 2025, against the Florence Y'alls, winning 13–2.[26] The game drew 4,552 fans and marked the Frontier League's debut in Mississippi. Skinner scored the first run in franchise history in the bottom of the first inning, and catcher Victor Diaz recorded the team's first hit one inning later.[27]

The Mud Monsters completed their inaugural season with a 49–47 record, finishing third in the Midwest Conference and missing the league playoffs.

During the 2025 season, two Mud Monsters pitchers signed with Major League Baseball organizations. Left-handed pitcher Zack Morris signed with the Colorado Rockies in June.[28][29] Right-handed pitcher Michael Fowler later signed with the Milwaukee Brewers after pitching for Mississippi.[30]

2026 season

In May 2026, two Mud Monsters pitchers signed with Major League Baseball organizations. Left-handed pitcher Cole Cheatham signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners and was assigned to the ACL Mariners.[31] Right-handed pitcher Preston Johnson had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization after two starts with Mississippi, during which he struck out 18 batters across 11.0 innings.[32][33] MLB.com listed Johnson as signing a minor-league contract with Minnesota on May 18, 2026, and being assigned to the FCL Twins on May 19.[34]

Mascot

The team's official mascot is Fish.[35] The character was introduced by the team in April 2025 and is described by the club as having the whiskers of a catfish and the fins of a gar.[36]

Season-by-season records

Season W-L record Win % Finish Playoffs
202549–47.5103rd in Midwest ConferenceDid not qualify
Totals49–47.510N/aN/a

Current roster

Mississippi Mud Monsters roster
Active roster Coaching staff

Pitchers

  • 27 Braden Forsyth
  • 16 Jackson Smith
  • 21 Chris Barraza
  • 32 Art Joven
  • 45 Brian Williams
  • 30 Connor Langrell
  • 25 Dallas Woolfolk
  • 28 Tristan House
  • 17 Brayden Sanders
  • 19 Gage Bihm
  • 36 Tyler Campbell
  • 13 Sergio Sanchez
  • 20 John Walsh
  • 35 Jase Schueller Injury icon(14-day)


Catchers

  • 43 Kevin Brown (emergency catcher)
  •  3 Tevis Payne II
  • 29 Victor Diaz

Infielders

  • 15 Joshua Shelly
  •  4 Travis Holt
  •  7 Slater Schield
  • 24 Samil De La Rosa
  • 33 Nathan Rose
  •  9 AJ Fritz
  • 14 Jack Holman Injury icon(7-day)
  •  2 Vantrel Reed Injury icon(7-day)

Outfielders

  •  1 Kyle Booker
  •  5 Brayland Skinner
  • 18 Kasten Furr
  • 22 Karell Paz

Manager

  • 12 Jay Pecci

Coaches

  • 11 Kurt Takahashi (pitching)
  • 26 James McOwen (hitting)
  • 43 Kevin Brown (catching coordinator)
  • -- Lucas Duffy (director of analytics)
  • -- Marc Osborne (athletic trainer)
  • 31 Neil Ring (first base)
  • Injury icon Disabled list
  • ‡ Inactive list
  • § Suspended list
  •  updated July 12, 2026 Transactions

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Built from the Swamp: Mississippi Mud Monsters Unveil Story-Driven 2025 Uniforms". Mississippi Mud Monsters. April 26, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ Simmons, Scott (September 9, 2024). "New baseball team coming to Trustmark Park as M-Braves leave". WAPT. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ Bowker, Ernest (April 7, 2024). "Sports column: Take one last chance to appreciate the M-Braves before they're gone". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "The Frontier League Announces Newest Expansion Team In Mississippi". Frontier League (Press release). September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  5. 1 2 White, Kristopher (December 4, 2024). "Mississippi Mud Monsters name general manager". WJTV. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, J.T. (October 3, 2024). "Mississippi Mud Monsters announce assistant general manager". SuperTalk Mississippi. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  7. ↑ Mitchell, J.T. (October 28, 2024). "Mississippi Mud Monsters announce schedule for 2025 season". SuperTalk Mississippi. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  8. ↑ "VOTE – On Deck 2025 – Trustmark Park". OnDeck2025.com. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Gater, Harold. "New Trustmark Park minor league baseball team names proposed. Take our poll". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Williams, Angela (September 27, 2024). "Mississippi Mud Monsters coming soon to Trustmark Park". WAPT. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ Salers, Caleb (October 10, 2024). "Mississippi Mud Monsters unveils team logo". SuperTalk Mississippi. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  12. ↑ "PR Daily's Media Relations Awards finalists announced". PR Daily. 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Mud Monsters Launch MonstersStore.com, the Official Team Shop" (Press release). April 3, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026 – via OurSports Central.
  14. ↑ "Belhaven University, Mississippi Mud Monsters Announce Major Partnership". Belhaven University Athletics. January 17, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Busby, Garrett (September 8, 2025). "Trustmark Park to install turf infield". WLBT. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ware, Allie (September 9, 2025). "'A nice investment in our future': Mud Monsters enhance Pearl's community experience". WAPT. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Oktoberfest by Day, MonstoBEERfest by Night: Trustmark Park Becomes Pearl's Fall Party Hub on October 11". Mississippi Mud Monsters. September 5, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Trustmark Park to host Oktoberfest and MonstoBEERfest". WJTV. October 10, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Southern Lights transforms Trustmark Park into holiday wonderland". WAPT. November 20, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Ice skating at Southern Lights holiday event at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi". The Clarion-Ledger. November 20, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ "A Private New Year's Eve at The Southern Lights". OurSports Central. December 15, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Mississippi Mud Monsters selected to host MLB HBCU Power Series in conjunction with MLB". Alabama A&M Athletics. January 23, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park Officially Sold Out". Mississippi Mud Monsters. April 28, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Mississippi Mud Monsters announce Jay Pecci as inaugural field manager". Frontier League. January 13, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Mud Monsters sign Mississippi native as first player in franchise history". WLBT. January 21, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ Busby, Garrett; Thomas, Kasie (May 8, 2025). "Mud Monsters secure 11-run victory in first-ever game at Trustmark Park". WLBT. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Mud Monsters Mash at Inaugural Bash". Mississippi Mud Monsters. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  28. ↑ Milam, Ben (June 17, 2025). "Zack Morris becomes first Mississippi Mud Monster signed by MLB organization". SuperTalk Mississippi. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ "First Mississippi Mud Monster signed by MLB organization headed to play for Colorado Rockies". Darkhorse Press. June 17, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Michael Fowler Signs Free Agent Deal with Milwaukee Brewers". Southern Miss Athletics. July 30, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Cole Cheatham Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Mud Monsters pitcher Preston Johnson signed by Minnesota Twins". The Vicksburg Post. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Preston Johnson's Next Chapter Begins as a Member of the Minnesota Twins". OurSports Central (Press release). Mississippi Mud Monsters. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Preston Johnson Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Fish". Mississippi Mud Monsters. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  36. ↑ "The Legend of Fish: A Monster Is Born". Mississippi Mud Monsters. April 1, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
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