Michigan State's Mason Erla (Michigan State Athletics)

Roller Coaster Year Leaves Michigan State’s Mason Erla Ready To Roll

Features Walter Villa - March 5, 2021

Michigan State’s star righthander, Mason Erla, had been a newlywed for just over two months this past fall when his father, Chuck, was hospitalized for COVID-19.

What should’ve been a joyful time of wedded bliss for Erla was a nightmare as he was reduced to seeing his dad through a hospital window.

“He was fighting for his life, and doctors told us they didn’t know how much longer he had,” Erla said. “He spent about 65 days on a ventilator.

“I went home to be with my mom. Family is more important than me staying (on campus) and training. I put baseball on[…]