Mud Monsters Sign 41-Year-Old Assistant GM David Kerr to Pitching Contract
Right-hander brings elite experience, veteran leadership, and a fastball that legally qualifies as a changeup

PEARL, Miss. (April 1, 2026) — The Mississippi Mud Monsters announced today that the club has signed 41-year-old Assistant General Manager David Kerr to a pitching contract for the 2026 season.

Kerr, a 6’0”, 240-pound right-handed pitcher from Akron, Ohio who attended Henderson State, brings a unique arsenal to the Mud Monsters pitching staff, highlighted by a 42 mile-per-hour knuckleball and a fastball that has been clocked as high as 50 miles per hour, depending on wind conditions and whether he properly stretched first.

While Kerr is technically a rookie, he brings nearly two decades of professional baseball experience. His prior stops include the Arkansas Travelers, the Gary SouthShore RailCats, the Mississippi Braves, and the Mississippi Mud Monsters, where he has built a reputation for clubhouse leadership, baseball knowledge, and always being near the coffee when something needs to be discussed.

Kerr was part of the Mississippi Braves front office during the club’s 2021 Southern League championship season and is also the owner of a 2021 World Series ring from his time in the Atlanta Braves organization, making him one of the most decorated rookie pitchers in franchise history.

“David brings a lot of intangibles to this pitching staff,” said Mud Monsters General Manager Andrew Seymour. “Mainly that he already works here and we know where to find him. But beyond that, the knuckleball is unpredictable, mostly because he has no idea where it’s going either.”

Kerr is expected to serve in a dual role this season, working in the front office during the day and being available out of the bullpen in situations described by the coaching staff as “emotionally complex,” “during doubleheaders,” or “when we’re down by a lot but still want to have some fun.”

Scouting reports describe Kerr as a finesse pitcher with a high baseball IQ, below-average velocity, and an above-average ability to tell stories about baseball. His pitching arsenal includes a knuckleball (42 mph), a fastball (48–50 mph), and a changeup that is statistically very similar to the fastball.

“I’ve always said I would do anything this team needed,” Kerr said. “Unfortunately, they took me up on it. I’m currently on a strict training program that includes long toss, light stretching, and watching a lot of YouTube videos about knuckleballs.”

If he appears in a game this season, Kerr would become one of the oldest rookie pitchers in professional baseball history and almost certainly the slowest.

The Mud Monsters open the 2026 season on May 7 at Trustmark Park. Tickets are on sale now at mudmonstersbaseball.com. All Mud Monsters home games feature free parking, a pet-friendly ballpark, and promotional nights throughout the season. And more total nonsense like this April 1 press release.

About the Mississippi Mud Monsters
Baseball Lives Here. It Just Got a Little Weirder.

The Mississippi Mud Monsters are a professional baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, competing in the Frontier League. Built in the mud and rooted in Mississippi, the Mud Monsters believe baseball should be unapologetically fun, a little weird, wildly welcoming, and deeply tied to the place it calls home. Real baseball. Real people. This is swamp-built, Mississippi-made baseball, where the vibes matter just as much as the final score.

Scouting Report

Name: David Kerr
Position: Pitcher
Role: Situational Reliever / Front Office
Throws: Right
Bats: Not Recently
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 240 lbs
Born: June 5, 1984 – Akron, Ohio
Hometown: Jacksonville, Arkansas
Resides: Pearl, Mississippi
Age: 41
College: Henderson State (Ark.)
Jersey Number: 41
Nickname: “The Intern” (oldest guy on the team)

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Pitching Arsenal

Pitch	Velocity	Notes
Knuckleball	42 mph	Primary pitch. Movement described as “philosophical.”
Fastball	48-50 mph	Classified by TrackMan as “off-speed.”
Changeup	47 mph	Statistically indistinguishable from fastball.
Curveball	45 mph	More of a suggestion than a pitch.
Intentional Walk	Plus pitch

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Scouting Report

Kerr is a veteran right-hander who relies on finesse, pitch sequencing, and the element of surprise rather than velocity. Known for his unpredictable knuckleball, Kerr keeps hitters off balance primarily because neither he nor the catcher knows where the ball is going.

His greatest strengths include clubhouse leadership, storytelling, situational awareness, and access to the team travel itinerary. Projects as a middle reliever in low-leverage but high-entertainment situations.

MLB Comparison: R.A. Dickey if he threw slower and had a full-time office job.

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20–80 Scouting Grades

Tool	Grade
Fastball	20
Knuckleball	45 (55 when it works)
Changeup	30
Control	40
Velocity	10
Durability	60
Pickoff Move	20
Fielding	35
Holding Runners	We’ll see
Baseball IQ	70
Clubhouse Leadership	80
Postgame Interview	80

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Baseball Savant (Projected)

Metric	Value
Average Fastball Velocity	49.2 mph
Spin Rate	412 rpm
Extension	5’2”
Whiff Rate	Depends on sense of humor
Chase Rate	Low
Hard Hit %	High
Soft Contact %	Also high somehow
Expected ERA	7.85
Actual ERA	5.40 (knuckleball magic)

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Prior Experience

• 2006 – Arkansas Travelers (Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels)
• 2014–2019 – Gary SouthShore RailCats (American Association)
• 2020–2024 – Mississippi Braves (Double-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)
• 2025–Present – Mississippi Mud Monsters (Frontier League)

Honors:

• 2021 Southern League Champion (Mississippi Braves)
• 2021 World Series Champion (Atlanta Braves Organization)

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Situations He Will Pitch In

• Extra innings when both teams are out of pitchers
• Doubleheaders
• Games where we are winning by 12
• Games where we are losing by 12
• Promotions that have gotten out of hand
• When a knuckleball feels funny coming out of his hand during warmups
• July day games
• Emotionally complex situations

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Quote

“I’m just going to go out there, throw strikes, trust my defense, and try not to pull anything.”