Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartan Baseball And Softball Host Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams Event Thursday
9/24/2026 6:04:00 PM | Baseball, Softball
MSU welcomes Bryce Weiler’s nonprofit organization for fourth year.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's baseball and softball teams partnered up to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event with co-founder Bryce Weiler for the fourth year on Thursday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Jeff Ishbia Field.
The Beautiful Lives Project provides people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or facility limitations.Â
Close to 100 people participated in the event, which MSU baseball and softball hosted for the fourth year overall. MSU baseball and softball have been hosting the event annually since 2022, but last year's event was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Student-athletes from the Spartan baseball and softball teams went through different drills and activities with the students, ranging from playing catch to running the bases, fielding, pitching and hitting.
Michigan State was the first college baseball and softball teams to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event back in 2022, as Weiler's group now works with college baseball, softball, basketball, football and volleyball teams around the country, as well as minor league baseball teams, with roughly 40 events a year.
"I also think about Michigan State baseball and softball almost every day, if not every week," Weiler said. "Michigan State softball was the first college softball team to ever do this event with us, and Michigan State baseball was the first college baseball team to ever do this with us. Just to have Michigan State be the first college teams, and Coach (Jake) Boss and Coach Sho (Sharonda McDonald-Kelly) and the players and coaches continuing to do this every year, means so much to me."
Weiler, who is blind, and co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project and its National Advocacy Officer. He is also the disability consultant for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's grown tremendously and Bryce is such an incredible guy," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Just a guy that's hard to say no to, to be quite honest with you. What he does for his organization and the position that he's put himself in is just incredible. It's a great lesson for our guys. He's going to talk to our team after this, and it is a really inspirational story, for sure. For us to be able to partner with him and for him to ask is just an honor for us. A lot of fun.
Despite a large group of the participants needing to depart early to return to school, after all the on-field activities were completed, everyone took a group photo, student-athletes from Spartan baseball and softball teams took individual photos with the kids and signed autographs.
"It's so awesome. It's great to be able to serve our community and just be out here with these kids. They are a lot of fun, and they just want to play ball," MSU softball head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley said. "It kind of gets to the heart of what we do. Every day can sometimes feel like a job, but when you come out here with these kids, it's just a lot of fun just hanging out and having a good time."
Weiler was thrilled to return to MSU for what is becoming an annual visit, and even more excited to make it back after last year's event was washed out by weather. He is hopeful and optimistic for the lessons that the Spartans student-athletes learn from the event.
"If the point of a coach is to teach young people to be successful in life, these are the opportunities that help young people learn how to be successful," Weiler said. "All the student-athletes at Michigan State will have a job doing something one day, and they can help allow individuals with disabilities the chance to have employment and to live the American Dream, because so often individuals with disabilities are taken out of having life-changing moments."
Weiler's goal was accomplished and hit home with the student-athletes from both teams.
"This is just an amazing event. It's an incredible opportunity for us to connect with our community and really just make an impact on these kids' lives. It makes you feel grateful for our own health and just being able to see how smart, how creative they are. It's really incredible and impactful," MSU softball senior infielder Hannah Greer said. "Seeing the smiles on their faces makes our whole week, our whole month. We get one day to come out here and spend time with them, and if they leave with a smile, then I do too."
Afterwards, Weiler spoke to just the student-athletes from both the baseball and softball teams, telling his story and past, and the story left a strong impression with Greer, her teammates and baseball counterparts.
"Yeah, it's definitely going to impact us. We have more than half of our team is new (this upcoming season), so it's a great team-bonding activity to get us together and just think about the greater community around us," Greer said.
One of the players learning from the day's event from baseball senior outfielder Parker Picot, who had a fun and fulfilling day.
"It's an amazing thing that they're able to come out here and that we're able to set up fun games for them and just be able to play baseball," Picot said. Â "It's a great way that the game of baseball unites so many people just from all different backgrounds. It's really cool to be a part of that, and it makes you realize the impact that you have on our community, on a family, and everyone. So, it's very special."
While Michigan State was the first collegiate baseball and softball programs in the country to have an Beautiful Lives Project event, the Spartans are excited to see it not only spread, but continuing to grow and leave lasting lessons.
"It gives you a whole new appreciation of the sport," Picot. "Being able to come out here every day is something that we don't take for granted, and just having these guys out here, just being able to do the little things, smile, have fun, don't worry about missing a ball, don't worry about anything. It's why we play, and it keeps us going, because the season can get long. So, this keeps us going, for sure."
For more information on the Beautiful Lives Project, visit www.beautifullives.org.
Â
The Beautiful Lives Project provides people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or facility limitations.Â
Close to 100 people participated in the event, which MSU baseball and softball hosted for the fourth year overall. MSU baseball and softball have been hosting the event annually since 2022, but last year's event was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Student-athletes from the Spartan baseball and softball teams went through different drills and activities with the students, ranging from playing catch to running the bases, fielding, pitching and hitting.
Michigan State was the first college baseball and softball teams to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event back in 2022, as Weiler's group now works with college baseball, softball, basketball, football and volleyball teams around the country, as well as minor league baseball teams, with roughly 40 events a year.
"I also think about Michigan State baseball and softball almost every day, if not every week," Weiler said. "Michigan State softball was the first college softball team to ever do this event with us, and Michigan State baseball was the first college baseball team to ever do this with us. Just to have Michigan State be the first college teams, and Coach (Jake) Boss and Coach Sho (Sharonda McDonald-Kelly) and the players and coaches continuing to do this every year, means so much to me."
Weiler, who is blind, and co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project and its National Advocacy Officer. He is also the disability consultant for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's grown tremendously and Bryce is such an incredible guy," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Just a guy that's hard to say no to, to be quite honest with you. What he does for his organization and the position that he's put himself in is just incredible. It's a great lesson for our guys. He's going to talk to our team after this, and it is a really inspirational story, for sure. For us to be able to partner with him and for him to ask is just an honor for us. A lot of fun.
Despite a large group of the participants needing to depart early to return to school, after all the on-field activities were completed, everyone took a group photo, student-athletes from Spartan baseball and softball teams took individual photos with the kids and signed autographs.
"It's so awesome. It's great to be able to serve our community and just be out here with these kids. They are a lot of fun, and they just want to play ball," MSU softball head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley said. "It kind of gets to the heart of what we do. Every day can sometimes feel like a job, but when you come out here with these kids, it's just a lot of fun just hanging out and having a good time."
Weiler was thrilled to return to MSU for what is becoming an annual visit, and even more excited to make it back after last year's event was washed out by weather. He is hopeful and optimistic for the lessons that the Spartans student-athletes learn from the event.
"If the point of a coach is to teach young people to be successful in life, these are the opportunities that help young people learn how to be successful," Weiler said. "All the student-athletes at Michigan State will have a job doing something one day, and they can help allow individuals with disabilities the chance to have employment and to live the American Dream, because so often individuals with disabilities are taken out of having life-changing moments."
Weiler's goal was accomplished and hit home with the student-athletes from both teams.
"This is just an amazing event. It's an incredible opportunity for us to connect with our community and really just make an impact on these kids' lives. It makes you feel grateful for our own health and just being able to see how smart, how creative they are. It's really incredible and impactful," MSU softball senior infielder Hannah Greer said. "Seeing the smiles on their faces makes our whole week, our whole month. We get one day to come out here and spend time with them, and if they leave with a smile, then I do too."
Afterwards, Weiler spoke to just the student-athletes from both the baseball and softball teams, telling his story and past, and the story left a strong impression with Greer, her teammates and baseball counterparts.
"Yeah, it's definitely going to impact us. We have more than half of our team is new (this upcoming season), so it's a great team-bonding activity to get us together and just think about the greater community around us," Greer said.
One of the players learning from the day's event from baseball senior outfielder Parker Picot, who had a fun and fulfilling day.
"It's an amazing thing that they're able to come out here and that we're able to set up fun games for them and just be able to play baseball," Picot said. Â "It's a great way that the game of baseball unites so many people just from all different backgrounds. It's really cool to be a part of that, and it makes you realize the impact that you have on our community, on a family, and everyone. So, it's very special."
While Michigan State was the first collegiate baseball and softball programs in the country to have an Beautiful Lives Project event, the Spartans are excited to see it not only spread, but continuing to grow and leave lasting lessons.
"It gives you a whole new appreciation of the sport," Picot. "Being able to come out here every day is something that we don't take for granted, and just having these guys out here, just being able to do the little things, smile, have fun, don't worry about missing a ball, don't worry about anything. It's why we play, and it keeps us going, because the season can get long. So, this keeps us going, for sure."
For more information on the Beautiful Lives Project, visit www.beautifullives.org.
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ BaseballTuesday, February 24
Monday, February 16
Monday, January 26
Monday, May 19