The Mississippi Mud Monsters have officially wrapped up their debut season, and club officials are calling year one a success.
“This year was not supposed to happen. Twenty years of baseball here ended. The lights could have gone dark. That could have been it. Instead, you lit the place back up. Louder. Stranger. Swampier than anyone could have imagined,” a statement from the Mud Monsters’ social media accounts reads.
For those who may not understand the reference in the club’s quote, the Mud Monsters came to Trustmark Park in Pearl less than a year after the Mississippi Braves moved operations to Columbus, Ga. After the Braves announced plans for their departure in January 2024, local and state leaders went to work to ensure that baseball would still be played in the central Mississippi ballpark.
Eight months later, officials gathered in Trustmark Park to announce that a Frontier League club would be taking the diamond in spring 2025. Fans were given a choice to name the team, with the options being the Mississippi Grits, Mud Monsters, or Soul Shakers. After the ballots were counted, the Mud Monsters came away as the overwhelming fan favorite, per club officials.
From there, the front office went to work. A general manager was hired, a club manager with MLB ties was brought in to lead the team, and a litany of players were signed — many of whom either hailed from Mississippi or played college ball in the Magnolia State at some point in time.
Then the inaugural season arrived in May, and thousands of people flocked to Trustmark Park to watch the hometown team secure an 11-run victory in their opener. A historic campaign was embarked upon, with the Mud Monsters being the first-ever professional baseball club signing not one but two pitchers over 7-feet tall. Throughout the year, the team ebbed and flowed, ending season one with a 49-47 record.
Amid the record fluctuation, one thing remained: the support of the local community.
“You chanted, ‘BEER,’ until it shook the press box. You screamed bingo until your cards tore. You laughed when the mystery sausages showed up, then ate them anyway,” the statement continued, referencing promotional games throughout the season. “You reminded us who Hulk Hogan was. You shouted, ‘WOOOO,’ for Ric Flair. You told the story of Chuck Norris breaking our scoreboard. You devoured apple pies on the Fourth of July, ate enough gumbo and fried catfish to shame a county fair, and tested the limits of the AYCE BCI Club seats.
“You asked for autographs. You measured yourself against a 7-foot-2 Australian pitcher. You bounced in the bounce houses. You laughed at a middle-aged manager stealing the social password from Macy. And after the Coldplay CEO cheating scandal went viral, you bought Kiss Cam shirts and wore them proudly. You raised foam fists. You cheered through fireworks. You filled this place with a joy you could feel in your chest.”
This year was not supposed to happen. Twenty years of baseball here ended. The lights could have gone dark. That could have been it. Instead, you lit the place back up. Louder. Stranger. Swampier than anyone could have imagined.
From a big win on Opening Night to a local kid’s… pic.twitter.com/AGtquwiS3N
— Mississippi Mud Monsters (@mudmonstersbsb) September 1, 2025
Though the Mud Monsters narrowly missed the postseason, club officials have assured that the team will return to Pearl next year for another round of festivities. To bridge the gap and give locals something fun to do in the offseason, Trustmark Park will become a winter wonderland from Nov. 21 to an unspecified date in early January.
Called “The Southern Lights,” the holiday festival will feature a variety of activities, including millions of twinkling lights, ice skating, carnival rides, and fire pits with s’mores. The announcement followed a promise by officials to make the baseball-based venue a community-friendly facility, with more events between seasons.
“What could have been the end became a beginning. You proved that baseball in Pearl is not just alive. It is fun. It is chaotic. It is joyful. It is swamp-soaked. And it belongs to you,” the statement continued. “So, as this first year closes, here is the most important thing. Thank you. Thank you for believing when you had every reason not to. Thank you for shouting and laughing and showing up with your whole heart.
“You, fans, took this place and made it yours. You made it home. The swamp is not slowing down. Soon, Trustmark Park will glow with millions of lights for The Southern Lights. And after that comes an even bigger, louder, swampier 2026. The Mud Monsters are not just a team. They are your story now. And this was only the first chapter.”
