M-Braves offer safe haven for Miss Rankin County
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. For David Kerr, working in Minor League Baseball means keeping the following mantra in mind:
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE.
For David Kerr, working in Minor League Baseball means keeping the following mantra in mind: Every game is someone’s first. “It’s a thing I overcommunicate,” said Kerr, director of group sales for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. “It’s really easy to have tunnel vision and not see that everyone has their own individual story.”
Those individual stories can be powerful and wholly unexpected, serving as a reminder of baseball’s ability to create and contextualize meaningful life experiences. Case in point: When the Mississippi Braves played their home opener on April 9 -- kicking off their final season in the Jackson suburb of Pearl before relocating to Columbus, Ga. -- Anna Leah Jolly threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch.
Jolly is the reigning Miss Rankin County; winning that title was a necessary step toward the larger goal of competing to be Miss Mississippi. As she waited to throw out her Opening Night first pitch, representing the county where the M-Braves’ home of Trustmark Park is located, she said something to Kerr that left him dumbfounded.
“You just want to chat with [first pitch throwers] and take them out of the moment a little, so they’re not nervous going out,” said Kerr. “She’s like, ‘Oh, this is where I met my parents.’ Out of the blue. Just one of those things that makes you turn your head for a second, do a double take.”
Indeed, you never know someone’s story. In 2013, 11 years before she became Miss Rankin County, the young woman now known as Anna Leah Jolly first met Kelly and Jay Jolly during a game at Trustmark Park. Within the span of a year, they became her “forever parents.”
Jolly hails from what she calls “the Odessa area” of Ukraine, “a really beautiful place.” She endured a difficult early childhood, shuttling back and forth between a “home life” she’d prefer not to talk about and a group home. Her residence in this latter environment resulted in her first trip to America, organized by the Joyful Journeys international hosting program. This group of eight children, most of whom hailed from Ukraine, stayed with families in Brandon, Miss.’s Crossgates neighborhood.
Among the many activities that the group enjoyed during their two-month stay in the U.S., seeing the M-Braves was a distinct highlight.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had. I didn’t need to speak the language to know what was going on,” said Jolly. “And it was so much fun to watch. So different, because in Ukraine football -- or soccer -- was the primary sport I grew up with. So watching a ball get hit with a bat, that was really different for us, but we were all in on it. I honestly think we were the loudest ones there.”
Kelly and Jay Jolly were at Trustmark Park for that game as well.
“They were just there to help with transportation,” said Jolly. “And then they met me, and they were like ‘That’s our kid.’ There was just something about it … So I feel like a lot of it was just the Lord pushing them towards adoption.
“It was very, very quick. Six months later they were in Ukraine. We spent three months there and then we were back [in Mississippi].”
Jolly started doing ballet soon after beginning her new life in Mississippi, which she credited with giving her “an outlet to showcase my talent and gain confidence.” This led to pageants, which had similar benefits. As Miss Rankin County -- and an aspiring Miss Mississippi -- she is now partnering with an organization, Casa, which assists children whose situations she can relate to.
“I really have a heart for foster care and that is what Casa does, they help abused and neglected kids,” she said.
Jolly now has plans to partner with the M-Braves, working with Kerr specifically, to further her work on behalf of Casa. For Kerr, it all ties into a larger mission to utilize the ballpark as a place to benefit the community.
“We want to make sure that our final season -- our 20th at Trustmark Park -- is really just a love letter back to Mississippi,” said Kerr, “to say thank you for all the things you’ve built and all the memories you’ve given.”
From her life-changing first game to her 2021 high school graduation ceremony to throwing out the first pitch as Miss Rankin County, Trustmark Park has provided Jolly with memories to last a lifetime.
“We definitely went to games after [her first one] and I don’t think I ever felt like ‘Oh, well, this is where I met my parents.’ It was just so natural, it felt like I’ve always been here. You know what I mean? I don’t know how to explain it.”
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring