Brady Stuart was just riding a bus toward North Dakota on a Thursday morning when his phone rang, completely rerouting his life. The 22-year-old from Hudson got the call that every aspiring player dreams about: an offer to pitch for the Los Angeles Angels. Just like that, he went from collegiate summer league travel to a minor league free agent contract, officially becoming a professional baseball player.
From The Bus Stop To Pro Ball, Just Like That
It’s a wild story, for real. Stuart said it “almost doesn’t seem real,” calling the whole thing “surreal” from his hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s down there meeting up with other undrafted free agents and 2026 MLB Draft picks who just signed with the Angels. Think about that for a second: one minute you’re on a bus, the next you’re starting your pro career. It’s the kind of moment players spend their entire lives working for, and Stuart summed it up perfectly, saying, “It’s something that I’ve thought about and have wanted for so long, and it’s a cool feeling to have it be real life finally.”
D3 Dominance And College World Series Dreams
This wasn’t some fluke. Stuart was a legit superstar on the diamond. He was a two-time T&G Hometeam All-Star back in Hudson High before he graduated in 2022. Then he went to Endicott College for four years and just absolutely lit it up. This past spring, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound righty was named the consensus Division III National Pitcher of the Year. He was the ace of an Endicott staff that pushed the Gulls all the way to a runner-up finish in the College World Series. His senior year stats were just insane: a 9-1 record, which was T-14th in DIII, a filthy 1.81 ERA, good for 14th in DIII, and a whopping 103 strikeouts, ranking seventh, all in 89.1 innings pitched. Endicott junior catcher James Benestad put it best, calling Stuart a “fierce competitor” whose “leadership was displayed in many ways.” The guy was a winner, plain and simple, going 7-0 in the regular season.
The Draft Snub That Led To A Phone Call Miracle
It gets even crazier. After all that college success, Stuart didn’t hear a peep from MLB scouts or organizations. He even pitched in the Futures League Northeast Prospects Game in June, showing off his stuff. The MLB Draft rolled around from July 11-12, and he heard from a few scouts beforehand, but his name wasn’t called through all 20 rounds. “It was a weird process,” he said, and “it didn’t end up happening.” But just four days later, while on another bus trip with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, his phone buzzed. It was the Northeast scout for the Angels, and they had a plane ticket, plus enough money left over, with Stuart’s name on it. He waited six hours at a Chipotle in North Dakota, packed up in Minnesota, and flew west. Talk about a whirlwind! What’s next for Stuart? The Angels organization now gets to see what this D3 phenom can do in professional ball. This kid’s journey is just beginning, and it’s going to be one heck of a ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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