Tempstaff Transaction: C Tevis Payne II Activated off IL
Presented by
CRESTWOOD, Ill. (May 19, 2026) - Joining Andrew Semo as a fellow Californian backstop, Tevis Payne II has been activated off Mississippi’s 7-day Injured List.
Monster Notes
A new backstop is ready for his first professional chapter.
- Tevis Payne II has been activated off Mississippi’s 7-day Injured List.
- The San Jose native is set to make both his Mud Monsters debut and professional debut.
- Payne II played collegiately at Mission College, Vanguard University and Houston Christian University.
- In 2025, Payne II hit .264 with one home run and 20 RBIs at Houston Christian.
Backstop Added
Payne II joins Mississippi’s catching group after being activated from the IL.
The San Jose native will not only be making his Mud Monsters debut, but also his professional debut when he appears in his first game.
Now with the Mud Monsters and slated to make his first appearance as a professional ballplayer, Payne II provides Mississippi with additional depth behind the plate.
College Road
Payne II’s path to professional baseball included junior college, NAIA and NCAA Division I stops.
From Mission to Vanguard to Houston Christian
Payne II played collegiately at Mission College before making his way to NAIA member Vanguard University and later Houston Christian University at the NCAA Division I level.
While at Vanguard in 2024, the catcher started 39 games for the Lions and hit .263 with three home runs and 26 runs batted in.
After transferring to Houston Christian in 2025, Payne II hit .264 with one home run and 20 RBIs.
College Throwback
Before joining the Mud Monsters, Payne II showed off the arm behind the plate during his college career.
Player History
Follow Payne II’s path before joining the Mud Monsters.
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.