This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that autism spectrum disorder is prevalent in one in every 54 births, a rate more than twice as high as in 2004. Jeremy Sprinkle grew up seeing how limiting the disease can be for those affected.

"I grew up with a friend that I played baseball with and he had a twin brother that had autism," Sprinkle said. "Just growing up and seeing that, every sport we played they let him come out and they just did little stuff for him. Let him have his own little part of it, make him feel involved. It was good just seeing that, just growing up and being that close to it."

The money Sprinkle raises from his cleats will go to the Autism Society, an organization that focuses on early identification of autism and providing support for individuals affected with the disease and their families, something he was excited to share with the family of his childhood friend.

"It means a lot, just being able to talk to his mom and tell her I'm doing it for him," Sprinkle said. "Just getting that recognition out there for autism and doing a good thing."