EAST LANSING (WWJ) - A former Michigan State University baseball player is dead after a tragic rock climbing incident out West, officials for the university said on Thursday.
Michigan State University Athletics confirmed the death of Matt Byars, who was a two-year letterwinner at the university from 2016-2017.
He was 27 years old
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Byars family," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said in a prepared statement. "Matt was a joy to coach and his big personality was a huge part of our program both on and off the field. We're heartbroken at his passing due to a tragic rock climbing accident in Colorado."
Byars, a native of Lodi, Wis., joined the Spartans after playing his first two seasons at Heartland Community College in Illinois.
In his first season at MSU, Byars threw out 12 baserunners and was named the team’s defensive MVP.
He entered the 2016 MLB daft where he was he was picked in the 24th round (No. 723 overall) by the Minnesota Twins, but decided to come back to Michigan State for his senior season.
Throughout his MSU career, Byars appeared in 102 games while batting . 278 with 30 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 51 RBIs.
Byars is the son of Jeff and Christine Byars.