College baseball player makes history as first-ever DI player with prosthetic leg

One East Carolina baseball player set Division I history Friday night in an emotional debut.

The individual is Parker Byrd, an infielder for the Pirates who did not see action during the 2023 season. The reason for his absence is related to a boating accident Byrd sustained in 2022, leading to the amputation of Byrd’s right leg below the knee.

After pinch-hitting in ECU’s Friday game against Rider, Byrd is now the first baseball player in DI history with a prosthetic leg. Byrd was announced to a standing ovation in what proved to be an emotional scene for the team.

What. A. Moment. ??‍☠️@parkerbyrd11 pic.twitter.com/qqkzVjfktj

— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) February 16, 2024

Byrd’s story was shared throughout the country with a Super Bowl ad for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. When he was injured on July 23, 2022, Byrd recalled how no other baseball player used a prosthetic.

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“I was like ‘Mom, there is not a DI player out there that has a prosthetic leg’,” said Byrd. “She said, ‘Well, there always has to be the first.’ I kind of viewed my situation a little differently after she said that.”

CAF was able to award Byrd a grant for an Össur Prosthetic that helped Byrd achieve his dream of playing college baseball. Now, he’s carved out a special spot in college baseball history for himself.

Our very own @parkerbyrd11 will be featured in a Super Bowl ad for the @CAFoundation this Sunday?

This ad will shine light on his journey to become the first person to play Division 1 baseball with a prosthetic leg pic.twitter.com/3EO9jaoCTG

— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) February 6, 2024

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.