Parker Byrd makes ECU debut, becomes first player to play in D1 baseball game with prosthetic leg
Friday night marked opening day for college baseball teams across the country, including East Carolina. As the Pirates cruised their way to a dominant opening day victory, a special piece of history was made along the way. Enter Parker Byrd.
In July of 2022, Byrd was getting ready for his freshman season at ECU. During one summer day, he was out on the water, boating with a few of his friends and teammates. That day, a boating accident seriously injured Byrd, who eventually was forced to amputate his right leg.
The recovery process has been a challenging one for Byrd, who had to undergo up to 22 surgeries during the initial 45 days following his injury.
On Friday, Parker Byrd made history. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with ECU leading Rider, Byrd got the call. He made his way into the ECU batters box, and stepped up for the first at-bat of his collegiate career. In doing so, he became the first player in Division 1 baseball history to play in a game with a prosthetic leg.
With no hesitation, the ECU crowd erupted in support of Byrd. It was a moment that will forever be remembered in not only ECU history, but college baseball history. He then drew a walk, getting on base in his first ever college at-bat.
“Chill bumps, man,” Byrd said following the game. “It’s absolutely phenomenal. This crowd, these fans, these people, my family, my teammates, my coaches. I really could not be more thankful and blessed to be in the opportunity I am today. The people believing in me, I really can’t put it into words.”
ECU captured every angle of the moment for Parker and the entire Byrd family. They looked on as he made his way into the box, and once he returned to the dugout, they shared a special embrace.
ECU head coach Cliff Godwin opened up on the special moment after the game as well. He called it one of the proudest moments of his coaching career. And Godwin added that this will not be the last that we see of Parker Byrd on a baseball field.
“His dad texted me this morning and of course we’d have loved to tell everybody exactly when it was going to happen,” Godwin said. “But it’s been a long journey. It’s one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had as a coach. He’s going to get some more. But he’s worked his tail off. Jimmy Paylor, the umpire behind home plate, told me when I was making a change that he’s been umpiring for 17-18 years and it’s the coolest moment he’s ever been a part of. He said he was teared up back there, as I was, when he was running off the field.”
As Byrd’s journey has been a unique one, he has become a serious source of inspiration to everyone around him. Even after losing his leg, Byrd wasn’t slowed in his quest to play college baseball. And he certainly didn’t let it stop him.
ECU went on to defeat Rider 16-2 to begin their 2024 season. The 16 runs, amazingly, matched the number that Byrd wears on the back of his jersey.
Truly a special night for Parker Byrd and ECU baseball.