12/31/2025
In communities across the country and around the world, athletes are celebrated for their performance on the field. What doesn’t always catch the attention of the masses is when an athlete uses their platform to make an even greater impact, one that reaches far beyond the box score.
Today, Uplifting Athletes proudly announces Michael A. Taylor as the 2025 Rare Disease Champion™, honoring his unwavering dedication to the rare disease community and the legacy of inspiration he carries with him both on and off the baseball diamond.
The journey to this honor began long before his Major League Baseball career. Raised in Florida, Michael earned his respect as a player by showing his heart, hustle, and resilience. He credits his faith and family’s strength for showing him the path to follow.
Michael’s inspiration came from his beloved sister, Danielle, who was born with trisomy 18, a rare and often life-limiting genetic condition. Though doctors initially gave her only months to live, Danielle exceeded every expectation and filled two decades with joy, love, and laughter. Her life, and her fight, left a profound imprint on Michael, shaping his character and ultimately igniting his passion for rare disease advocacy.
During his Gold Glove–winning 2021 season with the Kansas City Royals, Michael began a partnership with Uplifting Athletes to support people impacted by rare diseases. He launched performance-based campaigns that turned his on-field success into funding and awareness, including Hits for Rare Diseases, which raised more than $150,000 in 2022, and Home Runs for Rare Diseases in 2023, the same season he hit a career-high 21 home runs.
Since 2021, Michael and his wife, Bri, have hosted Uplifting Experiences for local families at games, creating a lasting impact in every city where he played. When Michael moved to new organizations, previous teams continued hosting Experiences in his honor. In total, 27 Uplifting Experiences serving 230 individuals have been hosted across four Major League Baseball organizations. Most recently, during the 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox, Michael hosted two Experiences serving 48 people impacted by rare diseases.
As you can see, Michael has given his all for the rare disease community. Through his performance at the plate and his willingness to give back, he brought energy and attention to a community that often feels overlooked and under served. Michael’s efforts went deeper than fundraising and generating awareness. He made time along his journey to connect with patients, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates alike. As an Uplifting Ambassador, he has worked to elevate voices across the rare disease landscape, reminding us that sport has the power not just to entertain — but to unite, uplift, and inspire. He made people feel seen, heard and loved.
Today, as we recognize Michael A. Taylor as the 2025 Rare Disease Champion™, we celebrate a life shaped by compassion and driven by purpose. His leadership reminds us all that even in the face of challenges we cannot always see, there are stories worth telling, communities worth supporting, and futures worth fighting for.
Thank you, Michael, for using your platform, your voice, and your heart to make the rare disease cause visible and to ensure that no one in this community stands alone.
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion™ Award recognizes people in athletics who have made a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people affected by rare diseases. The inaugural award was presented in 2009. Other notable winners include Jake Olson from University of Southern California, JD Bertrand from the University of Notre Dame and David Shaw from Stanford University. The Rare Disease Champion trophy is sculpted in the likeness of Mark Herzlich, the former Boston College and New York Giants linebacker who provided the inspiration for the award after overcoming a life-threatening battle with the rare disease Ewing’s sarcoma in 2009.
