The wait is over—baseball fans in Mississippi are about to witness history as the Mississippi Mud Monsters take the field for their inaugural game at Trustmark Park tomorrow night.
The Mud Monsters, the newest addition to the Frontier League, are bringing a fresh energy to Central Mississippi. With a roster packed with local standouts, seasoned veterans, and rising stars, the team is ready to make a splash in their debut season.
Leading the charge is Field Manager Jay Pecci, a veteran of 14 minor league seasons. Pecci was drafted in the 11th round of the 1998 MLB Draft after a standout playing career at Stanford. Pecci spent over 15 seasons in professional baseball, reaching as high as Triple-A and playing in the U.S., Italy, and Germany. He has spent the past several years coaching in the Mets organization. Pecci has assembled a squad built for speed, power, and grit. Fans can expect an exciting mix of hometown heroes and local products, including:
Aubrey Gillentine — Pitcher — Southern Miss/Charlotte–A hard-throwing righty from Amory, Mississippi, bringing strikeout stuff and serious hometown pride to the mound. The former Southern Miss and Charlotte pitcher stands at 6’3 and weights 233 lbs.
Davis Bradshaw — Outfielder — Meridian CC–Florence, MS native with wheels, and a .303 career batting average, with Triple A experience with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — a real table-setter at the top of the order. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 175 pounds, he was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Bradshaw has demonstrated strong contact-hitting ability throughout his career, maintaining a solid batting average and contributing effectively to his teams
Brayland Skinner — Outfielder — Mississippi State/Memphis—The Southaven native returns home to the Magnolia state and brings a strong arm and speed to the Mud Monsters lineup. Skinner was on Mississippi State’s 2021 National Championship team, before transferring to Memphis in 2022. He’s no stranger to independent ball, having played for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2023 and last year in California for the Yolo High Wheelers.
Ti’Quan Forbes — Utility Infielder — Columbia, MS–Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 225 pounds, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2nd round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Columbia High School just down the road. He has 10 years of minor league experience in the Rangers and White Sox organizations. In 2019, while playing with the Birmingham Barons he was one of the top 10 prospects in the White Sox organization. He has spent the past two years playing in Mexico with Leones de Yucatan and Quertero Conquistadors.
The Mud Monsters first game will take place tomorrow night at 6:30 at Trustmark Park aka “The Swamp” against the Florence Yall’s. Gates open at 5:30, The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive an Inaugural T-Shirt Giveaway and a Magnet Schedule to keep track of the action all season long. The night will culminate in a massive fireworks display, setting the tone for a season filled with thrilling theme nights, giveaways, and unforgettable moments.
Fans unable to attend in person can still catch the action, as Jay White, a longtime Mississippi broadcaster, will be calling the game as the official play-by-play voice of the Mud Monsters. You can watch the games at the brand new streaming service for the Frontier League, Home Team Network. HTN | HomeTeam Network
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