Byron Joseph LaForest (April 18, 1917 – May 5, 1947) was a Canadian professional baseball player who appeared in 52 games in the major leagues, primarily as a third baseman, for the Boston Red Sox during the latter months of the 1945 season.

He hit .296 with 101 runs batted in, which earned him a promotion in 1945 to the top Red Sox farm club, the Louisville Colonels.

He made his big-league debut on August 4, 1945, playing third base in both ends of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium.

Three weeks and an extended road trip later, on August 26, 1945, he made his Fenway Park debut during a twin bill against the Philadelphia Athletics.

[2] Still weakened from his illness, he suffered a heart attack in Florida during spring training in 1947, and died at age 30 on May 5 at Arlington, Massachusetts.