Red Sox Rookie Anthony Eyanson Pledges Strikeouts for NEDA

A rising baseball star is turning his personal struggle into a powerful mission to help others facing eating disorders.

Anthony Eyanson, 21, is making his professional debut with the Red Sox this season after helping Louisiana State University win the national championship. But the First Team All-American pitcher is bringing more than talent to the field: he's partnering with the National Eating Disorders Association and donating money for every strikeout he throws.

It's deeply personal. At age 10, Eyanson was diagnosed with achalasia, a rare condition where the esophagus doesn't properly move food to the stomach. Every meal became a battle, forcing him to choose between nibbling half a plate or going hungry.

"It almost felt like the same feeling you get when you have a nervous lump in your throat," Eyanson told Men's Health in his first public discussion about the disorder. "I would go to sleep hungry some nights because I was scared to eat."

The condition devastated his young body. Between May and July of 2015, he dropped from 107 pounds to just 75 pounds. His mother noticed how thin he'd become during a backyard ice bucket challenge and immediately called the doctor.

Eyanson spent 12 days in the hospital that July, undergoing four procedures and a final surgery. He was exhausted, skipping meals before playing two baseball games in a day, his mood swinging as he tried to hide his pain from friends and family.

Why This Inspires

Eyanson's courage to speak up is breaking down harmful stereotypes about eating disorders. Experts note that eating disorders don't discriminate, and athletes face higher risk than many realize. By sharing his story, the young pitcher is showing other men and boys that asking for help isn't weakness.

"I was just embarrassed because I didn't know what was going on, and I just didn't want to be seen as different," he said. "I was only 10 years old when it started."

Now fully recovered and living his childhood dream of playing professional baseball, Eyanson is using his platform to fund awareness and support for others. Every strikeout this season will make a difference for someone struggling in silence.

His message is clear: you don't have to face it alone, and recovery is possible.