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Watch: Reds' Kivlehan to honor college friend with Players Weekend nickname

Aaron Doster / USA TODAY Sports

With Players Weekend coming up this Friday, MLB players for every team will take the field with nicknames above their jersey numbers instead of their regular last names. Patrick Kivlehan of the Cincinnati Reds is going to use the opportunity to shine a light on his old college friend, Eric LeGrand.

LeGrand, who attended Rutgers and played football with Kivlehan, suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury during a football game against Army in 2010. LeGrand published a book in 2012 called "Believe: The Victorious Story of Eric LeGrand."

In LeGrand's honor, Kivlehan will wear "Believe" in lieu of a nickname on his Players Weekend uniform.

LeGrand now works with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, founded by actor Christopher Reeve to help raise awareness and funds for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.

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