ECU’s Byrd first D-I baseball participant to compete with prosthetic leg

An East Carolina infielder/pitcher, who battled again from shedding a leg in a boating accident two years in the past, has turn into the primary individual to play in Division I baseball with a prosthetic leg.

Parker Byrd, a sophomore, received the historic second to recollect when he pinch-hit Friday evening within the eighth inning of the Pirates’ season-opening 16-2 victory over Rider.

Strolling to dwelling plate to thunderous applause, Byrd reached base on a stroll on a 3-1 pitch that drew an excellent larger response from the group of 5,221 in Greenville, North Carolina. Byrd was pinch run for by designated hitter Jason Janesko, who finally scored East Carolina’s thirteenth run of the sport.

What. A. Second. 🤟🏴‍☠️@parkerbyrd11 pic.twitter.com/qqkzVjfktj

— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) February 16, 2024

“I imply chill bumps man, its completely phenomenal” Byrd mentioned after the sport. “This crowd, these followers, these individuals, my household, my teammates, coaches I actually couldn’t be extra grateful and blessed.”

ECU supervisor Cliff Godwin mentioned he shared within the emotion of seeing Byrd step as much as the plate for the primary time.

“It is likely one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had as a coach,” Godwin mentioned in an on-field interview with WCTI-TV. “And he will get some extra. He has labored his tail off, it was tremendous emotional. The umpire behind dwelling plate informed me after I was making a change he has been umpiring for 17-18 years and it’s the coolest second he has ever been part of.”

Former main leaguer Jim Abbott, who performed 10 skilled seasons and threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees regardless of being born and not using a proper hand, was amongst these to supply congratulations to Byrd on social media.

“Nicely accomplished Parker, nothing can cease you!” he wrote.

A boating accident in Tub, North Carolina, in July 2022 very almost price Byrd his life and led to the amputation of his proper leg.

He then wanted 22 extra surgical procedures in a 45-day interval, and the trail to get again on the sector this season had been arduous. However he has now efficiently reached a big milestone on that lengthy street again when he made his school debut on Friday.

“It is actually the individuals alongside the best way which have helped me,” Byrd mentioned to reporters. “God above has been trying over me on a regular basis and I actually could not be extra blessed to be within the alternative I’m as we speak.”