Mud Monsters Trade All-Star Closer Chris Barraza; Sign C Kevin Brown, RHP Joe Taylor
Mississippi sends Barraza to Florence while adding depth for the final stretch of the 2026 season.
PEARL, Miss. (Aug. 17, 2026) - The Mississippi Mud Monsters have announced a series of roster moves, completing a trade that sends 2026 Frontier League All-Star closer Chris Barraza to the Florence Y’alls while signing catcher Kevin Brown and right-handed pitcher Joe Taylor.
Transaction Notes
A franchise All-Star departs, while two reinforcements join the organization.
- Chris Barraza has been traded to the Florence Y’alls.
- Mississippi will receive a player to be named later and future considerations.
- Barraza leaves ranking second in franchise history with 121 strikeouts.
- Kevin Brown has been signed and activated as an emergency catcher.
- Joe Taylor has signed with Mississippi and has been placed on the Inactive List.
Barraza Traded to Florence
The 2026 Frontier League All-Star closer heads to the Y’alls.
In return for Barraza, Mississippi will receive a player to be named later as well as future considerations.
Barraza spent two seasons with the Mud Monsters after signing with the organization prior to the club’s inaugural season in February 2025.
From the moment he put on the teal and black, Barraza became a dominant force within Mississippi’s bullpen.
The right-hander from Tucson, Arizona departs Mississippi currently ranking second in franchise history with 121 strikeouts, compiling the total across just 87.1 innings of work.
All-Star Arm
Barraza represented Mississippi in the 2026 Frontier League All-Star Game.
Barraza was selected to the 2026 Frontier League All-Star Game, which was played at his new home ballpark in Florence, Kentucky.
At the time of his selection, Barraza had compiled a 16.27 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate, a mark that ranked best across all levels of professional baseball.
Barraza originally joined the Mud Monsters after spending two seasons in the Los Angeles Angels organization following his selection in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Arizona.
The right-hander spent both of his seasons in affiliated baseball with the Single-A Inland Empire 66ers.
Prior to beginning his professional career, Barraza started his collegiate career at New Mexico State in 2019 and spent three seasons pitching for the Aggies before transferring to the University of Arizona in 2022 for his final two collegiate seasons.
A member of the first team ever assembled by Mississippi, Barraza leaves the Mud Monsters having established himself as one of the most prolific relievers in the young history of the franchise. His 121 strikeouts and All-Star selection leave his mark on the club’s first two seasons as his career now continues with Florence.
Kevin Brown Signed
Brown joins as an emergency catcher and continues his role on the coaching staff.
Along with the trade, Mississippi has announced the signing and activation of catcher Kevin Brown ahead of the club’s trip to Canada to take on the Ottawa Titans, as well as the signing of right-handed pitcher Joe Taylor.
Brown serves as one of Mississippi’s emergency catchers while also working as the catching coordinator on manager Jay Pecci’s coaching staff.
Brown served in the same role last season, appearing in two games with the Mud Monsters.
Prior to arriving in Mississippi, Brown began his professional career in 2024 with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League.
More on Brown’s background and coaching work can be found on his LinkedIn profile.
Brown’s Path to Mississippi
The catcher played collegiately at Shawnee, Lane and Kentucky State.
After graduating from Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, Alabama, Brown began his collegiate career in 2020 at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois.
While playing for the Saints, Brown put together a strong 2021 season that included a two-home run performance on March 5, when he connected on a two-run homer and a grand slam.
After two seasons at the junior college level, Brown made the jump to NCAA Division II for the 2022 season with Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, where he posted a .287 batting average across 33 games.
Brown transferred to Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, for his final collegiate season in 2023 and enjoyed a career year, batting .328 across 20 games while hitting three home runs and driving in 12 runs.
Joe Taylor Added
The right-hander joins after time with Salem-Keizer and Idaho Falls.
Taylor joins the Mud Monsters to continue his professional career in the Frontier League. The right-hander spent multiple seasons with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Mavericks League before signing with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League earlier this season.
Taylor appeared in 17 games with the Volcanoes this season, making 14 starts and logging 96.1 innings while striking out 92 batters. The right-hander pitched to a 3.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.
Taylor joins southpaws Tyler Campbell and John Walsh as current Mud Monsters who previously played in the Mavericks League.
During the Volcanoes’ playoff run last season, Taylor was named Playoff MVP after making two starts and posting a 2-0 record across 15.0 innings while striking out 11.
With Taylor signing while the Mud Monsters are on their road trip in Canada, Mississippi has placed the right-hander on the Inactive List.
Final Stretch Reinforcements
Brown and Taylor join the organization as reinforcements for the Mud Monsters during the final stretch of the 2026 Frontier League season.
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.