The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they were referred to locally, were a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson, from 2005 to 2024. They were the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and competed in the Southern League. The M-Braves played their home games at Trustmark Park. After the 2024 season, the team relocated to Columbus, Georgia, to become the Columbus Clingstones.
History
Relocation from Greenville and construction of Trustmark Park The franchise that became the Mississippi Braves previously played as the Greenville Braves in Greenville, South Carolina. The club relocated to Pearl, Mississippi, before the 2005 season after an agreement was reached for a new stadium in Mississippi.
A 2016 Bloomberg Businessweek article traced the origins of the move to 2003, when stadium developer and consultant Tim Bennett approached Pearl mayor Jimmy Foster about the possibility of building a minor league baseball stadium in the city. Bennett did not initially have a team committed to the project, but later learned that the Atlanta Braves' Double-A affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, was nearing the end of its lease. In December 2003, Bennett persuaded Braves officials to let him pitch Pearl as a potential new home for the club.
Bloomberg reported that Bennett, Foster, and John Schuerholz, then the Atlanta Braves' general manager, toured the proposed stadium site near Highway 80 in Pearl during the early stages of the discussions. Foster and Bennett later worked with Braves executive Mike Plant on a plan to bring the team and a nearby Bass Pro Shops development to Pearl, with the city issuing bonds to finance the project. Greenville officials were also negotiating with the Braves during this period, but the club announced on April 1, 2004, that the 2004 season would be its last in South Carolina.
Construction crews worked two shifts, seven days a week on a new 5,500-seat stadium in Pearl. The project was described in 2004 as a $20 million stadium, with Bloomfield Properties developing the property and Yates Construction serving as general contractor. Planned amenities included corporate suites, dining and group activity areas, and children's play areas. Site clearing began in July 2004, and the ballpark was scheduled to be completed by March 1, 2005.
The Braves opened both their Mississippi era and Trustmark Park on April 18, 2005, against the Montgomery Biscuits. The team's first season in Pearl ended with a 64-68 record and a fourth-place finish in the Southern League's South Division.
Financing and economic debate The Mississippi Braves' relocation to Pearl was tied to public financing and economic development efforts. According to Mississippi Today, state Rep. Ricky Cummings authored legislation in 2000 that created a sales tax rebate program for tourism-related projects. Trustmark Park and the adjacent Bass Pro Shops development later received $18.9 million through the program, and Atlanta Braves officials cited the rebate program in 2004 as one of the primary reasons they chose Pearl.
Bloomberg reported that Pearl raised $78 million through bonds for the stadium and surrounding development, with $28 million set aside for the ballpark, and that the city paid Bennett a finder's fee of more than $1 million. The financing later drew criticism. Bloomberg reported that Pearl planned to repay the bonds through several revenue streams, including a ticket surcharge, sales tax from Bass Pro Shops, and a parking fee that was later replaced by a sales tax on a nearby shopping and restaurant district. The article also reported that Moody's Investors Service downgraded Pearl's debt rating in 2015, citing stadium-related liabilities.
Early years and first championship The M-Braves reached the postseason for the first time in 2007 after winning the first half in the South Division, but lost to the Montgomery Biscuits in the divisional round.
In 2008, Mississippi won the second-half South Division title, then defeated the Birmingham Barons, 3-0, in the division series. The Braves went on to defeat the Carolina Mudcats, 3-2, in the Southern League Championship Series. Mississippi clinched the title on September 13, 2008, with a 3-2 victory in 10 innings in the decisive Game 5 at Trustmark Park. It was the franchise's first championship in Mississippi and the first Southern League title for Atlanta's Double-A affiliate since 1997.
Player development and Atlanta Braves affiliation Throughout their 20 seasons in Mississippi, the M-Braves served as the Atlanta Braves' Double-A affiliate and were a key stop for many future major league players. Notable alumni included Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Martin Prado, Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrel, Andrelton Simmons, Ronald Acuña Jr., Max Fried, and Michael Harris II. Several Atlanta players also appeared in Pearl on injury rehabilitation assignments, including Chipper Jones.
By August 2019, 146 former M-Braves had reached the major leagues. In January 2024, Mississippi Today reported that 169 former Mississippi Braves had advanced to Major League Baseball during the team's time in Pearl.
In January 2020, the M-Braves announced an all-decade team for the 2010s, with selections based on production in Mississippi and later major league success.
Canceled 2020 season The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the year without M-Braves games, Trustmark Park hosted alternative events, including a Father's Day batting practice event, movie nights, and a target golf event in which participants hit shots from beneath the center-field videoboard to targets placed on the field.
Minor League Baseball restructuring and 2021 championship In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Braves were organized into the Double-A South. They finished the regular season with a 67-44 record, the best record in the league, and qualified for the playoffs.
Mississippi defeated the Montgomery Biscuits, 3-2, in the best-of-five championship series to win the Double-A South title. Shea Langeliers was selected as the league's Top MLB Prospect, and Dan Meyer was named Manager of the Year.
In 2022, the Double-A South resumed use of the Southern League name, which had been used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.
Diamond Baseball Holdings ownership In December 2021, Diamond Baseball Holdings purchased the Mississippi Braves from Atlanta Braves owner Liberty Media, along with Atlanta's affiliates in Gwinnett and Rome.
Community legacy The M-Braves' time in Pearl included community and personal milestones tied to Trustmark Park. In a 2024 MLB.com story, David Kerr, then the team's director of group sales, described a guiding idea for working in Minor League Baseball: "Every game is someone's first."
The story centered on Anna Leah Jolly, then Miss Rankin County and a Miss Mississippi candidate, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch during the M-Braves' 2024 home opener. Jolly had first visited Trustmark Park in 2013 as part of a group of children from Ukraine participating in the Joyful Journeys international hosting program. During that game, she met Kelly and Jay Jolly, who later became her adoptive parents. Kerr later described the team's final season as "a love letter back to Mississippi."
Final seasons and relocation to Columbus In January 2024, the Braves announced that the 2024 season would be their final season in Mississippi and that the team would relocate to Columbus, Georgia, for the 2025 season. Mississippi Today noted that the relocation came after the Braves had completed the 20-year commitment to Pearl described when the team moved from Greenville in 2004. The outlet also reported that Trustmark Park had 22 suites, cost $28 million to build, and was tied to a 20-year lease.
Pearl Mayor Jake Windham said city, county, and state officials had tried to keep the Braves at Trustmark Park and said efforts would be made to bring another minor league franchise to the ballpark. The relocated club was later named the Columbus Clingstones.
The M-Braves finished their final season in Pearl with a 63-73 record. Their departure left the Biloxi Shuckers, the Milwaukee Brewers' Double-A affiliate, as Mississippi's only affiliated Minor League Baseball club. Professional baseball continued at Trustmark Park in 2025 with the debut of the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Frontier League.
Ballpark
The Mississippi Braves played all 20 seasons at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. The ballpark opened in 2005 and was described by MLB.com as the place "where the Braves of tomorrow start to picture life in Atlanta." The ballpark was built as the centerpiece of the team's relocation from Greenville, South Carolina, to Pearl.
In August 2019, the M-Braves welcomed their three millionth fan at Trustmark Park during a game against the Birmingham Barons. At the time, the team said that 146 M-Braves players had gone on to make their major league debuts since the club's arrival in Pearl.
After the Braves relocated to Columbus, Georgia, the ballpark remained in professional baseball use as the home of the Mississippi Mud Monsters, a Frontier League expansion team that began play in 2025.
Season-by-season records
Season League Record Win % Finish Playoffs 2005 Southern League 64-68 .485 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2006 Southern League 58-80 .420 5th, South Division Did not qualify 2007 Southern League 67-72 .482 4th, South Division Lost division series 2008 Southern League 73-66 .525 2nd, South Division Won Southern League championship 2009 Southern League 65-73 .471 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2010 Southern League 63-74 .460 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2011 Southern League 61-79 .436 5th, South Division Did not qualify 2012 Southern League 62-77 .446 5th, South Division Did not qualify 2013 Southern League 76-63 .547 2nd, South Division Lost division series 2014 Southern League 83-56 .597 1st, South Division Did not qualify 2015 Southern League 68-67 .504 3rd, South Division Did not qualify 2016 Southern League 73-65 .529 2nd, South Division Lost championship series 2017 Southern League 58-80 .420 5th, South Division Did not qualify 2018 Southern League 67-71 .486 3rd, South Division Did not qualify 2019 Southern League 64-75 .460 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2020 Southern League Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Double-A South 67-44 .604 1st, South Division Won Double-A South championship 2022 Southern League 62-74 .456 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2023 Southern League 62-75 .453 4th, South Division Did not qualify 2024 Southern League 63-73 .463 4th, South Division Did not qualify
Notable players The Mississippi Braves produced numerous future major league players during their 20 seasons in Pearl. By August 2019, 146 former M-Braves had reached Major League Baseball. By January 2024, that number had grown to 169.
Several prominent Atlanta Braves of the 2010s and 2020s played for Mississippi, including Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider, and Max Fried. After Atlanta won the 2021 World Series, Swanson referenced his time in Mississippi during a postgame interview, saying, "Those 100 degree days in Jackson, Mississippi were well worth it."
An asterisk (*) indicates a player who was promoted directly from Mississippi to the Atlanta Braves.
Position players
Ronald Acuña Jr. (2017) Ozzie Albies (2016) Drake Baldwin (2023-2024) José Ascanio* (2006-2007) Christian Bethancourt (2012-2013) Gregor Blanco (2005-2006) William Contreras (2019) Travis Demeritte (2017-2018) Yunel Escobar (2006) Freddie Freeman (2009) Jeff Francoeur* (2005, 2008) Evan Gattis (2012) Philip Gosselin (2012-2013) Michael Harris II (2022) Jason Heyward (2009) Tommy La Stella (2013)