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ECU baseball player and New Bern Southpaws designated hitter Parker Byrd is getting a starting opportunity this summer, almost exactly two years after his career could have ended.

On July 23, 2022, Byrd was involved in a horrific boating accident on Bath Creek that nearly cost him his life. He was given two options for his right leg: amputation or continuing the medicine that had not been working and risk the infection spreading to his kidneys and lungs which could cause death.

Byrd chose amputation just below his knee and was fitted for a prosthetic. According to NCAA.com he was back in the ECU baseball facility that fall, and hitting was the first step to getting back on the field.

Then one year later, in spring of 2023, he began working on linear movement and fielding. The following year in spring of 2024, Byrd got an at bat in ECU’s opening weekend against Rider becoming the first Division I baseball player to play with a prosthetic leg.

Byrd credits his ability to play again to the people supporting him, “It was a very long process, I had some of the best PTs in the world and a lot of people in my corner to support me,” Byrd said. After ECU’s season ended, Byrd kept playing baseball this summer with the New Bern Southpaws.

General Manager of the New Bern Southpaws Dave Caccavaro watched that at bat and noticed many people from the New Bern community in the crowd supporting Byrd. He then reached out to Byrd’s parents, and they agreed that playing summer ball with the Southpaws would be a good opportunity for him.

Caccavaro spoke highly of Byrd’s character and leadership, “He has really stepped in as a leader of this team, he is an amazing young man who has really bought into what we are building here.”

Byrd is encouraged that his time with the Southpaws and excited for how this has shaped him as an overall player. “My time with the Southpaws is helping me get back on the field, and being able to play daily has definitely helped in making me a better ball player,” Byrd said. “I have to take this day by day, believe in myself, and trust in God because his plan is ultimately the best plan.”