As a new era of professional baseball in the Jackson metro area will soon begin, the Mississippi Mud Monsters has announced a field manager.
Jay Pecci has been handed the keys to configuring a roster and coaching the collection of talent when the Mud Monsters, the Magnolia State’s first-ever Frontier League club, take the diamond in Trustmark Park this spring. Pecci is a 2008 Northern League All-Star MVP, who had seven seasons of Minor League Baseball experience and over a decade of MLB Partner League play under his belt.
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He has the fourth-highest batting average in College World Series history (.588) during his time at Stanford. As a manager, Pecci has led teams to success, including guiding the Florida Complex League Mets to the best regular season record in 2023. The new Mud Monsters frontman also served as a bench coach for the Syracuse Mets in 2022, and in the same role for the St. Lucie Mets in 2021. He was also the complex coordinator for the Mets in both 2023 and 2024.
“I am thrilled to join the Mississippi Mud Monsters organization and take on this exciting opportunity,” Pecci said. “Mississippi has a passionate sports community, and I look forward to helping build a winning culture that fans can be proud of. My goal is to foster a team that competes at a high level while staying deeply connected to our fans and the community. Together, we’ll make the Mud Monsters a team to remember.”
As a player at the professional level, Pecci’s career highlights include 548 career hits with the Gary SouthShore RailCats (the most in franchise history) and 513 games played. His playing career spanned seven seasons in MLB-affiliated baseball with the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants, as well as additional years in MLB Partner Leagues.
Pecci finished his professional playing years overseas in Italy and Germany. A legacy athlete, Pecci is the grandson of Joe Gantenbein, a former major leaguer who played under legendary manager Connie Mack for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939-40.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Jay Pecci to the Mud Monsters family. His vast playing and coaching experience, combined with his passion for the game, make him the perfect leader for our team,” Mud Monsters General Manager Andrew Seymour said. “Jay’s leadership will not only help us build a competitive team but will also foster a strong bond with the community as we embark on this exciting journey in professional baseball.”
The Mississippi Mud Monsters will play their inaugural game on May 8 at home against the Florence Y’alls out of Kentucky. Ticket information can be found here.
