PEARL — The Mississippi Mud Monsters have made their first major hire.

The Frontier League baseball team announced Monday that they have hired Jay Pecci as its field manager for the upcoming season.

Pecci played 14 seasons in the minor leagues and independent baseball from 1998-2012 after a standout college career at Stanford. He has coached with various minor league clubs in the New York Mets since 2021.

Pecci finished his playing career overseas in Italy and Germany, and even served as a player-manager in Germany in 2018.

“His vast playing and coaching experience, combined with his passion for the game, make him the perfect leader for our team,” Andrew Seymour, General Manager of the Mississippi Mud Monsters, said in a statement. “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 season in 2025 as an expansion team in the independent Frontier League. Their first game is scheduled for May 8 at Trustmark Park against the Florence Y’alls.