Left-hander becomes first player in franchise history to ink MLB deal, as independent club sees its vision realized
Under the warm Illinois night sky, as fans filtered out of Wintrust Field in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg on Sunday night, June 15, following a 11-3 Mud Monsters loss to the Schaumburg Boomers, a quieter, more powerful moment unfolded inside the Mississippi Mud Monsters clubhouse — one that will forever be etched into the franchise’s young history.
Mud Monsters Manager Jay Pecci, a seasoned veteran managing independent baseball clubs, came into the clubhouse for what the players thought was just another postgame meeting following a blowout road loss. Instead, he broke the news that was a milestone for the young baseball club just barely over a month old.
“Zack Morris you are headed to the Colorado Rockies”
With those words, Zack Morris, a 24-year-old left-hander from Cabot, Arkansas, officially became the first player in Mississippi Mud Monsters history to sign with a MLB organization, just a month into the team’s debut season in the independent Frontier League.
Morris, who began his career as apitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks (2020-23), before finishing up his graduate year at TCU in 2024. He had been searching for the right opportunity to stay on the radar of pro scouts after going undrafted last summer. Despite flashes of brilliance in college — including clutch performances in the postseason i — injuries and inconsistency had cast doubt on his professional future. Morris, notably was the starting pitcher when the Razorbacks played Ole Miss in the 2022 College World Series.
Signed by the Mud Monsters in early May, Morris quickly became one of the most electric arms in the league. Through 9 appearances, all out of the bullpen, he posted a 3.86 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 16.1 innings, giving up 15 hits, 3 base on balls with 1.102 WHIP. Showing not only command and velocity but a maturity that caught the eyes of scouts.
His fastball sat in the low 90s, paired with a biting slider and deceptive mechanics from the left side — traits that have become increasingly valuable in the modern game. The Colorado Rockies had been monitoring Morris for weeks and made their move over the weekend, extending a minor league contract that Morris quickly accepted.
A Defining Moment for the Mud Monsters
Morris’ signing is more than just a player transaction — it’s a watershed moment for a franchise still in its infancy. Born from the void left by the departure of the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate, the Mud Monsters have embraced the unfiltered joy of independent baseball: quirky, community-driven, and full of stories like Morris’.
Under Pecci’s leadership, the Mud Monsters have made Trustmark Park feel like home again: full of kids chasing autographs, players chatting with fans on the concourse, and giveaways like fishing bucket hats and cool themed jerseys. They’ve even added a pickleball court on the concourse — because why not?
Still, at the core of the operation was a promise: this team would help players get to affiliated ball. And now, that promise has been fulfilled.
“It’s a proud day for this club,” Pecci said. “We built this from the ground up, and we told these guys, ‘If you come here and grind, someone’s going to notice.’ Zack’s our first. He won’t be the last.”
Morris will report to the Rockies’ minor league system this week — likely at the High-A or Double-A level, either in Spokane or Hartford — as he begins the next phase of his career. Meanwhile, the Mud Monsters will look to build on the momentum. They’ll finish up their long road trip this week with a three game road series against the Windy City Thunderbolts in Crestwood, IL that begins Tuesday. Followed by a weekend series against the Gateway Grizzlies just outside St. Louis.
The Mud Monsters return to Trustmark Park next Tuesday June 24 for a five game home series with the Down East Bird Dogs.
📌 Quick Facts:
- Player: Zack Morris
- Position: LHP
- College: Arkansas (2020-23) TCU (2024)
- Signed With: Colorado Rockies (minor league deal)
- Stats with Mud Monsters: 9 games,3.86 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 16.1 innings pitched, 15 hits, 7 earned runs, 29 k’s)
- Franchise Milestone: First Mud Monsters player to sign with an MLB organization
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