PEARL, Miss. (September 8, 2026) — The Mississippi Mud Monsters announced today that David Kerr has been named General Manager of the organization after serving as Assistant General Manager since the club's launch.
Kerr was formally introduced in his new role during a press conference at Trustmark Park.
“David has been right in the middle of building the Mud Monsters from the beginning,” said Joe Eng, Owner & CEO of the Mississippi Mud Monsters. “We've seen firsthand how much he cares about this organization, this community and the people who support it. He understands where we've been, but more importantly, he has a clear vision for where we can go. We believe he's the right person to lead the Mud Monsters into what comes next.”
4
Seasons
Gary SouthShore RailCats
6
Seasons
Mississippi Braves
2
Seasons
Mississippi Mud Monsters
The Road Here
More than a decade in professional baseball
Kerr brings more than a decade of experience in professional baseball across independent and affiliated baseball, with a career that has touched nearly every part of the operation, including ticket sales, corporate partnerships, marketing, promotions, game presentation, facility operations and community engagement.
He has also been part of both the final chapter of the Mississippi Braves and the beginning of the Mississippi Mud Monsters at Trustmark Park.
“This is an incredible opportunity, but I don't think today is really about a new title for me,” Kerr said. “It's about what we have the opportunity to build here.”
Kerr joined the Mud Monsters as Assistant General Manager in 2024 and helped build the organization ahead of its first season. Since then, he has had his hands in just about every part of the operation, from ticket sales and corporate partnerships to marketing, promotions, events and ballpark operations.
That work has extended beyond baseball season. Kerr has also helped grow The Southern Lights, the holiday experience that transforms Trustmark Park each winter and has become an important part of the organization's year-round presence in the community.
Before joining the Mud Monsters, Kerr spent six seasons with the Mississippi Braves, the former Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, ultimately serving as Director of Ticket Sales. His tenure included the franchise's transition under Diamond Baseball Holdings and its final seasons at Trustmark Park.
Prior to coming to Mississippi, Kerr spent four seasons with the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the independent American Association, where he served as Director of Marketing and Promotions. His work included marketing, advertising, branding, promotions and game entertainment, along with generating corporate sponsorship and ticket revenue.
Before beginning his professional baseball career, Kerr held leadership positions in sales, hiring, training and multi-unit operations.
That range of experience has helped shape how Kerr views the job ahead.
More Than Nine Innings
What happens around the game matters, too.
“Baseball is at the center of what we do, but what happens around those nine innings matters just as much,” Kerr said. “We have to take care of our partners. We have to create an environment where our employees can succeed. We have to listen to our fans and pay attention to the little things. Most importantly, we have to give people a reason to choose to spend their time with us and make them want to come back.”
Welcoming more people to Trustmark Park, strengthening partnerships and expanding the ballpark's year-round role in the community will be among Kerr's priorities as General Manager.
That includes continuing to build The Southern Lights and finding more reasons for people to visit Trustmark Park even when there isn't a baseball game on the schedule.
“Trustmark Park can't just matter when we have a baseball game,” Kerr said. “The Southern Lights has given us a glimpse of what this place can become when we think beyond the baseball schedule. I want us to keep finding ways to bring people here, create memories and make this ballpark part of people's lives throughout the year.”
Beyond Baseball
The Southern Lights
Kerr discusses the holiday experience at Trustmark Park with David Edelstein of WJTV in 2025.
For Kerr, that starts with understanding why people choose to spend their time at the ballpark in the first place.
“People don't come to a ballpark just for nine innings,” Kerr said. “They come with their kids. They bring their coworkers. They celebrate birthdays. They meet people. They start traditions. Years later, those are the things they remember.”
“I think our job is to create more of those moments.”
Try Something Weird
Some ideas work. Some absolutely don't.
Kerr said he wants Trustmark Park to become one of the most fun places in Mississippi to spend a night, with experiences and traditions that feel unmistakably like the Mud Monsters.
“I want us to create things people look forward to, experiences families remember and ideas that sometimes make people wonder what in the world we're doing,” Kerr said. “We're going to try some things that work. We're probably going to try a few that don't. But I never want us to become an organization that's afraid of an idea simply because baseball teams haven't traditionally done it that way.”
That willingness to experiment has become part of the personality of the Mud Monsters, where a night at the ballpark can include serious professional baseball and something considerably less serious happening a few feet away.
The goal isn't weird for the sake of weird. It's giving people something they didn't expect, something they'll talk about on the way home and, hopefully, another reason to come back.
Mississippi Is in the Name
The relationship has to be earned.
Another priority will be strengthening the Mud Monsters' connection with communities throughout the state.
“The word Mississippi is on the front of our name, and I want that to mean something,” Kerr said. “I want kids across this state wearing Mud Monsters hats. I want businesses throughout Mississippi to see value in being associated with this organization. I want communities outside the immediate Jackson metro to feel like this can be their team, too.”
“We don't earn that just because Mississippi is in our name. We have to go out and earn those relationships.”
Kerr's connection to the community extends beyond the ballpark. He currently serves on the boards of the Pearl Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Pearl and the Kiwanis Club of Pearl. He is also a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and is a Certified Hospitality Expert through the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association.
“Being part of a community can't just mean putting our logo on something,” Kerr said. “It means showing up. It means listening. It means building relationships with people when we're not asking them to buy a ticket or become a sponsor.”
Inside the Organization
Fun and high standards can coexist.
Inside the organization, Kerr said he wants to create an environment where people can enjoy working in baseball while still being held to high standards.
“We should have fun working in baseball,” Kerr said. “We're asking people to come here and have fun, so I think it would be pretty strange if everyone creating that experience was miserable. But fun and high standards can absolutely coexist. Partners have to be taken care of. Fans have to be taken care of. Details matter. And when those gates open, we have to be ready.”
Kerr said becoming General Manager isn't a finish line for an organization still early in its story.
“A new title doesn't magically change anything,” Kerr said. “We still have to earn people's attention. We have to earn their trust. Every time somebody walks through these gates, we have another opportunity to give them a reason to come back.”
“David Kerr being named General Manager of the Mississippi Mud Monsters is a win for baseball and a win for Mississippi. David genuinely loves this state, believes in the power of sports to bring people together, and has a unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life. His passion is contagious, his character is exceptional, and his dedication to serving others is unmatched. I can think of no one better to help grow this organization and create lasting memories for families across Mississippi.”
Shelley Brown Floyd
Executive Vice President
Brown Bottling Group
“David has spent years preparing for this opportunity by doing the work at every level—honoring what came before, building genuine relationships, and continually reimagining what the experience could become. What makes this moment exciting for Mississippi is his commitment to the sport, to the people who make it happen, and to the fans he knows deserve something worth showing up for. The future of the Mud Monsters is bright because David will not simply lead an organization; he will keep building the connections, experiences, and sense of place that give Mississippi something to be proud of.
David understands that great organizations are built around people—the people who play the game, the people who make it possible, and the fans who make the experience matter. He has spent years building relationships across Mississippi and proving that collaboration, creativity, and genuine investment in people can move a community forward. The Mud Monsters have chosen a leader who will make this role bigger than the title, and Mississippi will be better for what he builds.”
Janet Reihle
President & Executive Director
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
“We've worked side by side with David at Trustmark Park for years — his fingerprints are on everything from game nights to Southern Lights — and there isn't a person more invested in this ballpark or this community. His appointment as General Manager is well-deserved recognition of that work, and we offer him our full support as we look forward to what's ahead for the Mud Monsters and Trustmark Park under his direction.”
Jason Voyles
President & CEO
Spectrum Capital
“David Kerr is hardworking, creative, and brings a wealth of knowledge to baseball operations. He’s a great fit to lead the Mississippi Mud Monsters as General Manager, and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes in this new role.”
Mayor Jake Windham
City of Pearl, Mississippi
“David Kerr treats a sponsorship like a partnership instead of a transaction. Whether it was promoting safety during 811 Day on the field, The Southern Lights, or some idea for Trustmark Park that didn't exist yet, he always started with what would actually be good for the community and worked backward from there. The Mud Monsters are getting somebody who says yes to the big idea and then figures out how to pull it off.”
Bobby Morgan
Vice President
Atmos Energy
“I’m so excited to see David step into this role with the Mud Monsters. What I’ve always appreciated about David is that he sees the bigger picture — he genuinely wants to see the area and Mississippi as a whole prosper and become a place where people want to live, visit and invest. He understands that this organization represents more than baseball— it’s about bringing people together and contributing to a stronger local & regional economy. I’m proud to call David a friend, and I’m thrilled to see the impact he’ll make in this new role.”
Layla Essary
Executive Director
Stone County Economic Development Partnership
“David single handedly brought the Mud Monsters to life with his wild imagination and ability to create a brand from basically nothing to something that we now know and love. Working with David Kerr is always a joy and his passion for the Mud Monsters is contagious! I am proud to say that he is one of our board members at the Pearl Chamber of Commerce, and also a dear friend.”
Kathy Deer
Executive Director
Pearl Chamber of Commerce
“David’s love for Pearl and this community is genuine, and anyone who knows him knows how much he wants to see both Pearl and the Mississippi Mud Monsters succeed. I couldn’t be happier for him and truly believe there couldn’t be a better person for this opportunity.”
Stacy Smith
Executive Director
Main Street Pearl
“David Kerr is synonymous with the Mississippi Mud Monsters. From the very first time I spoke with him on the phone while inquiring about a birthday party to my most recent encounter with him, one thing has always stood out: David genuinely cares about people.
That’s what makes him different. His job may be marketing or managing a baseball team, but his true priority is caring for, encouraging, and investing in others. That kind of genuine heart and authenticity can’t be taught—it’s simply who he is.
What a gift David Kerr is to the Mississippi Mud Monsters, Rankin County, the surrounding communities, and to everyone who is fortunate enough to call him a friend. He doesn’t just help build a baseball team; he helps build a community.”
Staci McNinch
Rankin County Tax Assessor
“I’ve had the chance to know David and work with him for years, and one of the things I’ve always appreciated most is the way he treats people. He’s thoughtful, creative and genuinely kind, and somehow always finds a way to make a simple family outing feel a little more special than you expected.”
Gregg Harper
Former U.S. Congressman
“We've built something here. Now we get to see how much bigger it can become.”
Along the Way
A couple of moments from the Mud Monsters story
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.
