A New Heart, a Big League Moment

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Briend, who received a heart transplant in 2024, takes the field at Oracle Park to celebrate organ donation and the lives it transforms.

On most days at Oracle Park, the loudest cheers come after a towering home run or a game-saving catch. But on Donate Life Day, one of the biggest moments happens before the first pitch.

This year, as thousands of fans rose to their feet, a 14-year-old heart transplant recipient took to the field as the San Francisco Giants’ Play Ball Kid, a role that symbolized far more than the start of a baseball game. Even his Giants jersey told part of the story: He wore No. 24, a nod to 2024, the year he received his new heart. And there was another first: It was Tyler’s first Giants game. For Tyler, simply reaching a moment like this was once far from certain.

Born with an undiagnosed critical cyanotic congenital heart defect, Tyler was airlifted to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford when he was just 2 days old.

He spent much of his childhood navigating frequent medical care, including doctors’ appointments, surgeries, and extended hospital stays. Along the way, Tyler underwent three open-heart surgeries, nine cardiac catheterizations, and more than 50 visits to the operating room. Living with epilepsy, cerebral palsy and autism has been part of his journey from an early age. Along the way, he has shown remarkable strength while experiencing the everyday milestones and moments of childhood.

“Tyler struggled with congenital heart disease his whole life,” said Seth Hollander, MD, medical director of heart transplantation at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “Heart transplant gave him a new heart, and a new life.”

Recovering from heart transplant surgery in 2024 didn’t stop Tyler from pursuing the things he loves, including skating with the One Step Sharks hockey team. With adaptive measures, such as carrying his oxygen tank in a specially designed backpack, he was able to take to the ice.

While regular medical appointments remain part of Tyler’s life, they don’t define him. That’s why walking onto the field at Oracle Park carried special meaning.

“To hear that Tyler, a huge baseball fan, stood on the field at Oracle Park reminds me of the miracle that is heart transplantation, and the tenacity and bravery of this amazing child and his family,” Dr. Hollander said.

Jennie Briend, Tyler’s mom, said that seeing him on the field after everything he had experienced brought new meaning to the journey.

“The day demonstrated not only our family’s gratitude for organ donation awareness and representation, but the power of community, acceptance, and strength together,” Jennie said. 

The Giants’ annual Donate Life Day game, held in collaboration with Donor Network West and Stanford Children’s Health, shines a spotlight on the thousands of children across the country who are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, honoring the donors and families whose selfless decisions make those transplants possible. For transplant recipients, it is a chance to celebrate not only survival but possibility.

For this year’s Play Ball Kid, that possibility was measured in moments once thought out of reach—seeing the crowd in the stadium, standing on a Major League field, and helping remind thousands of fans that one decision can transform many lives.

“I hope that people see a child whose disability doesn’t define them, but instead has made them more resilient,” Jennie said. “If they can see one moment of our family and think to themselves ‘organ donation is worthwhile,’ and can recognize how impactful such a decision can be for not just one person but an entire community, I will know that they are truly seeing Tyler and his worth.” 

Donor Network West saves and heals lives through organ, eye and tissue donation for transplantation and research. One donor can give eight people a second chance at life.

The Pediatric Transplant Center at Packard Children’s is one of the nation’s leading pediatric transplant programs, with more than 25 years of experience and the No. 1 pediatric organ transplant volume in the Western United States. The center provides expert care for children with the most complex transplant needs, performing heart, lung, liver, kidney, intestine and multi-organ transplants.