Video: ECU’s Parker Byrd Becomes 1st NCAA Baseball Player with Prosthetic Leg

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIFebruary 17, 2024

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

East Carolina University sophomore Parker Byrd became the first baseball player in NCAA Division I history to play in a game with a prosthetic leg on Friday evening.

ECU Baseball @ECUBaseballWhat. A. Moment. 🤟🏴‍☠️@parkerbyrd11 pic.twitter.com/qqkzVjfktj

ECU Baseball @ECUBaseballGreatness.@parkerbyrd11 🤟🏴‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/ZSNoFwCdjI

ECU Baseball @ECUBaseballAll the feels as the Byrd family watched @parkerbyrd11 step into the batters box for the first time 🥹🤟 pic.twitter.com/G5h3kwR7wG

Byrd served as a pinch-hitter during the eighth inning of the Pirates’ 16-2 season-opening win over Rider University at home in Greenville, North Carolina. He drew a walk before leaving the game for pinch-runner Jason Janesko, who later scored in the five-run frame.

Byrd nearly died in a boating accident that took place on July 23, 2022. He lost his right leg and endured 22 surgeries, per Manny Randhawa of MLB.com.

He missed all of the 2023 season but remarkably returned to the active roster in 2024. His appearance Friday marked his first-ever collegiate action.

“I mean chill bumps man,” Byrd said postgame about the moment, per Eric Gullickson of WITN.

“This crowd, these people, my family, my teammates, coaches I really could not be more thankful and blessed.”

As Byrd noted, he got a quality at-bat in, drawing a walk that eventually led to a run as ECU poured it on late.

This isn’t an isolated moment, per ECU head coach Cliff Godwin, who said Byrd will see more action.

“It is one of the proudest moments I have ever had as a coach,” Godwin said, per Gullickson.

“And he’s going to get some more. He has worked his tail off it was super emotional. The umpire behind home plate told me later when I was making a change he has been an umpire for 17-18 years and it is the coolest moment he has ever been a part of.”

It assuredly was a tremendous evening in Greenville for Byrd, his family, his coaches, teammates and the 5,000-plus fans watching.