MILWAUKEE — Brewers baseball has felt different ever since 23-year-old Jacob “The Miz” Misiorowski stepped onto the mound on June 12th. He has delivered unforgettable performances including five no-hit innings and immediately becoming one of baseball’s rising stars. 

Last Friday The Miz came up from Missouri attended a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Parkinson Association. Jacob and his father Tom, who was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s at 33 years old, were the guests of honor. Jacob and Tom shared a heartfelt conversation about baseball, perseverance, and purpose, helping raise nearly $75,000 in a single night. Jacob even joked that he slept through the first call telling him he’d made it to the major leagues, a moment that began a rookie season defined by a blistering 104-mile-per-hour fastball and national attention.

The Miz reflected on what it’s like to be “that young and that good,” opening up about the pressure of performing at 23, his memorable meeting with Bob Uecker, and the surreal moment he learned he’d been selected for the National League All-Star team. after just a handful of major league appearances. For Jacob, all of it comes back to his father’s perseverance living with this incurable disease. 

Tom described the moment he first noticed symptoms at age 33, and spoke openly about the reality of Parkinson’s: a neurodegenerative brain disorder that reduces dopamine, affecting both mood and movement. Stiffness or tremors can be an early sign. One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when Tom shared a story about his young son recognizing his struggle while they were walking through a crowd, a memory that still moves him today.

The event became not just a fundraiser, but a community moment. Carlos Arnold, diagnosed at 36, said meeting The Miz energized him and reminded him to “be the dad that I am.” Wisconsin Parkinson Association President and CEO Kelly Cieslak spoke about how important visibility and education are for families facing the disease. Something that Wisconsin’s Afternoon News host Julia Fello appreciates, as her husband Jason was diagnosed with the disease at 39 years old. Jacob Misiorowski may be one of baseball’s brightest young talents, but on this night, it was clear his impact reaches far beyond the mound.

To learn more about the Wisconsin Parkinsons Association, click here. https://wiparkinson.org/