Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Baseball Kick Starts 2026 Season With 20th Annual First Pitch Dinner Sunday
2/1/2026 6:48:00 PM | Baseball
Annual event drew another large, spirited crowd to honor Gary Lytle as Alumnus of the Year, with MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt as keynote speaker.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball hosted its 20th-annual First Pitch Dinner Sunday afternoon at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, filling the ballroom with roughly 400 spirited Spartans fans.
This year's event featured Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt, as the keynote speaker, while honoring Gary Lytle as Alumnus of the Year.
"It was another great event today. We were honored to have close to 400 people here today to celebrate our guys and it's always a great way for us to kick off our season," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It was just very special to have J Batt, Steve Garvey and Cam Vieaux here, and share some great stories and memories. Those are three individuals who have a great deal of experience and knowledge from being in athletics for as long as they have, so they shared some tremendous words of wisdom and advice to not just our players, but everyone in attendance. I think our players, especially the newcomers now after today, fully understand and appreciate the importance of baseball in our community, and the support for this program and this University from the community. All-in-all, it was an outstanding day and just another reminder that our season is fast approaching."
Sunday's event started with fans collecting autographs from the players on the 2026 season poster, baseball and other memorabilia, along with bidding on silent auction items. Then, Jim Cotter, the master of ceremonies, conducted a special surprise auction, with Garvey auctioning off tickets for an experience to attend a Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium as Garvey's guest, complete with a tour of the stadium and other special amenities, with the proceeds for the auction donated to the MSU Baseball program.
Cotter then introduced the 2026 MSU team, and the 2026 Spartan roster introduced themselves to the crowd. Following the introductions was an invocation from former Spartan pitcher Caleb Sleeman, before the meal was served.
After the meal, Boss addressed the crowd, introducing his staff, the Spartan parents, and the former Spartan baseball alumni in attendance, before introducing Gary Lytle as Alumnus of the Year. Lytle passed away in May of 2025, just days before he was to be recognized at an MSU baseball game and throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Alumni Day. Lytle was represented in remembrance by many family members in attendance on Sunday.
"It was very special and emotional to have the chance to recognize Gary Lytle with his family being here," Boss said. "The Lytle family means so much to Michigan State and Gary was just an amazing person, it's a tremendous privilege for us to have to opportunity to recognize a great Spartan and his legacy by honoring him and his family today."
Lytle's son, Richard, accepted the award and gave a short acceptance speech, honoring his father and thanking Michigan State baseball program for recognizing his father with this tribute, as well as for the commemorative baseball and jersey that Gary was to wear for his ceremonial first pitch on Alumni Day.
"This was an awesome memorial to my father, that brought my whole family together," Richard Lytle said. "But the biggest thing is that we were paying tribute to him, so that's why we were here, really, and it was just an amazing tribute."
Following the Lytle recognition, Batt was joined on stage by former Spartan baseball greats and former Major League Baseball players Steve Garvey (1968) and Cam Vieaux (2016), for a "fireside chat" with Cotter asking the panel an array of questions and topics.
During the chat, Batt, Garvey and Vieaux recalled many memories during their times in athletics, with Garvey and Vieaux telling stories and recalling memories from their time at Michigan State.
"It means the world for me to come back and it's kind of full circle for me," Vieaux said. "When I was a kid, I'd imagine going to Michigan State and these are the things you dream about post-Michigan State baseball career. Just coming back and being able to give some advice, to share what I learned and experienced in professional baseball is just super cool. It's a tremendous honor, because being a Michigan State Spartan is such an amazing experience. I still talk to my friends from Michigan State that I played with here every single day. There's not a day that goes by where I don't talk to those guys. So, it's just a different bond you have with your college teammates. So to be able to come back here, any excuse I ever get, I'm doing it. I love this place, it means the world to me."
Batt, who worked at the University of Alabama from 2017-22, told stories about former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban and comparing him to working with Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo, and the similarities of both legendary, National Champion and Hall of Fame coaches.
One of the members in the audience was MSU junior infielder Ryan McKay, and was impacted by the talks, and inspired to apply the newly learned lessons from the day to the upcoming season.
"This was another super cool event. It's always great to have all the alumni here, especially the ones that played in the MLB and professionally. It was great to hear their insight and advice that allowed them to get to where they are today, and I hope everyone on the team learned something and we can apply the great messages to our program," McKay said. "Just seeing everyone here is such a great support system for us, we have everything we could ever need as a family here as Michigan State Spartans, and we're just very blessed to be here safe and healthy, and enjoy today. We have a lot to be thankful for and can't wait for the season to get started."
Like Garvey, McKay not only shares similar position in both being infielders, but also isn't among the taller players on roster, but plays above and beyond their height.
"With baseball, size doesn't matter as much, it's about heart and how hard you work," McKay said. "So I definitely try to take some bits and pieces from his game and how he played and carried himself, and learn some stuff and apply it to my game, since we are similar players, but again, size doesn't matter, it's what's in your head and your heart that matters the most when you're our type of players."
McKay and the rest of the Michigan State baseball team open the 2026 season at No. 8 Louisville, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 13-15 in Louisville, Ky. MSU then plays at No. 3 Texas, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, fans can visit msuspartans.com for complete schedule information and updates, as well as ways to follow the action.
Michigan State's home opener at is on Friday, March 20, facing Iowa in the opener of a three-game Big Ten Conference series.
For the third year in a row, Michigan State baseball and softball fans have the ability to purchase season tickets.
Season tickets packages went on sale on Sunday at the First Pitch Dinner, and are now on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office. For complete season ticket information and ways to purchase their tickets, fans can visit msuspartans.com, or visit the MSU Ticket Office, located in 1855 Place.
This year's event featured Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt, as the keynote speaker, while honoring Gary Lytle as Alumnus of the Year.
"It was another great event today. We were honored to have close to 400 people here today to celebrate our guys and it's always a great way for us to kick off our season," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It was just very special to have J Batt, Steve Garvey and Cam Vieaux here, and share some great stories and memories. Those are three individuals who have a great deal of experience and knowledge from being in athletics for as long as they have, so they shared some tremendous words of wisdom and advice to not just our players, but everyone in attendance. I think our players, especially the newcomers now after today, fully understand and appreciate the importance of baseball in our community, and the support for this program and this University from the community. All-in-all, it was an outstanding day and just another reminder that our season is fast approaching."
Sunday's event started with fans collecting autographs from the players on the 2026 season poster, baseball and other memorabilia, along with bidding on silent auction items. Then, Jim Cotter, the master of ceremonies, conducted a special surprise auction, with Garvey auctioning off tickets for an experience to attend a Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium as Garvey's guest, complete with a tour of the stadium and other special amenities, with the proceeds for the auction donated to the MSU Baseball program.
Cotter then introduced the 2026 MSU team, and the 2026 Spartan roster introduced themselves to the crowd. Following the introductions was an invocation from former Spartan pitcher Caleb Sleeman, before the meal was served.
After the meal, Boss addressed the crowd, introducing his staff, the Spartan parents, and the former Spartan baseball alumni in attendance, before introducing Gary Lytle as Alumnus of the Year. Lytle passed away in May of 2025, just days before he was to be recognized at an MSU baseball game and throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Alumni Day. Lytle was represented in remembrance by many family members in attendance on Sunday.
"It was very special and emotional to have the chance to recognize Gary Lytle with his family being here," Boss said. "The Lytle family means so much to Michigan State and Gary was just an amazing person, it's a tremendous privilege for us to have to opportunity to recognize a great Spartan and his legacy by honoring him and his family today."
Lytle's son, Richard, accepted the award and gave a short acceptance speech, honoring his father and thanking Michigan State baseball program for recognizing his father with this tribute, as well as for the commemorative baseball and jersey that Gary was to wear for his ceremonial first pitch on Alumni Day.
"This was an awesome memorial to my father, that brought my whole family together," Richard Lytle said. "But the biggest thing is that we were paying tribute to him, so that's why we were here, really, and it was just an amazing tribute."
Following the Lytle recognition, Batt was joined on stage by former Spartan baseball greats and former Major League Baseball players Steve Garvey (1968) and Cam Vieaux (2016), for a "fireside chat" with Cotter asking the panel an array of questions and topics.
During the chat, Batt, Garvey and Vieaux recalled many memories during their times in athletics, with Garvey and Vieaux telling stories and recalling memories from their time at Michigan State.
"It means the world for me to come back and it's kind of full circle for me," Vieaux said. "When I was a kid, I'd imagine going to Michigan State and these are the things you dream about post-Michigan State baseball career. Just coming back and being able to give some advice, to share what I learned and experienced in professional baseball is just super cool. It's a tremendous honor, because being a Michigan State Spartan is such an amazing experience. I still talk to my friends from Michigan State that I played with here every single day. There's not a day that goes by where I don't talk to those guys. So, it's just a different bond you have with your college teammates. So to be able to come back here, any excuse I ever get, I'm doing it. I love this place, it means the world to me."
Batt, who worked at the University of Alabama from 2017-22, told stories about former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban and comparing him to working with Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo, and the similarities of both legendary, National Champion and Hall of Fame coaches.
One of the members in the audience was MSU junior infielder Ryan McKay, and was impacted by the talks, and inspired to apply the newly learned lessons from the day to the upcoming season.
"This was another super cool event. It's always great to have all the alumni here, especially the ones that played in the MLB and professionally. It was great to hear their insight and advice that allowed them to get to where they are today, and I hope everyone on the team learned something and we can apply the great messages to our program," McKay said. "Just seeing everyone here is such a great support system for us, we have everything we could ever need as a family here as Michigan State Spartans, and we're just very blessed to be here safe and healthy, and enjoy today. We have a lot to be thankful for and can't wait for the season to get started."
Like Garvey, McKay not only shares similar position in both being infielders, but also isn't among the taller players on roster, but plays above and beyond their height.
"With baseball, size doesn't matter as much, it's about heart and how hard you work," McKay said. "So I definitely try to take some bits and pieces from his game and how he played and carried himself, and learn some stuff and apply it to my game, since we are similar players, but again, size doesn't matter, it's what's in your head and your heart that matters the most when you're our type of players."
McKay and the rest of the Michigan State baseball team open the 2026 season at No. 8 Louisville, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 13-15 in Louisville, Ky. MSU then plays at No. 3 Texas, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, fans can visit msuspartans.com for complete schedule information and updates, as well as ways to follow the action.
Michigan State's home opener at is on Friday, March 20, facing Iowa in the opener of a three-game Big Ten Conference series.
For the third year in a row, Michigan State baseball and softball fans have the ability to purchase season tickets.
Season tickets packages went on sale on Sunday at the First Pitch Dinner, and are now on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office. For complete season ticket information and ways to purchase their tickets, fans can visit msuspartans.com, or visit the MSU Ticket Office, located in 1855 Place.
Players Mentioned
INF
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