Brady Stuart was on a bus headed toward North Dakota on Thursday morning when he received a phone call that re-routed his entire life.
“I got a call on the bus that I could pitch for the Angles,” Stuart told the T&G over the phone on Friday.
Stuart was offered a minor league free agent contract by the Los Angeles Angels. The 22-year-old from Hudson is now a professional baseball player.
“It’s just surreal. It almost doesn’t seem real,” said Stuart from his hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s currently meeting with other undrafted free agents and 2026 MLB Draft picks signed by the Angels.
“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.”
After dominating on the diamond for Hudson High, where he was named a two-time T&G Hometeam All-Star before graduating in 2022, Stuart starred at Endicott College for the last four years.
This past spring, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound pitcher was named the consensus Division III National Pitcher of the Year and spearheaded an Endicott pitching staff that helped the Gulls finish runner-up in the College World Series.
Stuart finished his senior season with a 9-1 record (T-14th in DIII), 1.81 ERA (14th in DIII) and 103 strikeouts (seventh) in 89.1 innings pitched (eighth).
“It was amazing,” Stuart said. “We had a pretty special team this year.”
“Stu was a fierce competitor on the field, and his leadership was displayed in many ways that positively impacted the team,” said Endicott junior catcher James Benestad, who is from Northborough. “Catching him the past three years is something that I will cherish forever, and this season in particular was the most fun.”
Following the conclusion of his final college season, Stuart didn’t hear from any scouts or MLB organizations.
In June, he pitched in the Futures League Northeast Prospects Game held at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. Stuart previously played for the Worcester Bravehearts, who participate in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
From there, the soft-spoken Stuart heard from a few scouts ahead of the MLB Draft, which took place from July 11-12, but didn’t hear his name called during the 20 rounds of selections.
“It was a weird process,” Stuart told the T&G. “It didn’t end up happening.”
Four days after the end of the MLB Draft, Stuart was on a bus with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League (a collegiate summer league in Minnesota) and traveling across state lines for a baseball game when his phone buzzed.
On the other end of the line was the Northeast scout of the LA Angels, who said the organization had a plane ticket — and enough money left over — with Stuart’s name written on it.
“I was like, ‘That’s awesome, let’s do it,'” said Stuart, who waited six hours at a Chipotle in North Dakota to be picked up before returning to Minnesota to pack and fly out west. “It kind of all happened quick.”
Then, Stuart added: “The last three days have felt like a month.”
While Stuart hasn’t officially inked his contract just yet (pending physical) with the Angels, he is in Arizona and slotted to begin his professional career with the Arizona Complex League — which is rookie ball with the Angels.
“It’s one of those things that ever since I was a kid I wanted to play and that was my dream,” Stuart said. “Once it happens, you’re like ‘Is this actually happening?’ But at the same time, I’ve thought about it for so long.
“It’s a weird combination of having your dream come true but also thinking about it for so long.”
Congratulations to Brady Stuart (Post 100 2019-22) on signing a pro contract with the @Angels!
He was an integral part of sustained success of the program, and we would not be where we are today without his contributions. Very proud that he is our 1st alum to reach the pro level pic.twitter.com/Nc3HKzgQC5
— Hudson Post 100 (@HudsonPost100) July 16, 2026
One of his former college teammates even teased Stuart, saying that he gets to play baseball for a living now while others have to get a real job.
“I get to play a kid’s game,” Stuart said. “It will definitely be something that’s pretty special and I won’t take it for granted.”
People back in New England were pretty excited to hear the news about Stuart.
“I’m incredibly proud of Brady,” Hudson High baseball coach Tim Reinhardt texted the T&G. “When he was at Hudson, he was the ultimate competitor in both practices and in games. He grew so much in his four years as a high school player, and it has been fun to watch his college career unfold and see the success he’s had. He’s a great player and a great person, (and) if anyone deserves it, it’s Brady.”
From DIII college baseball to professional baseball, from Massachusetts to Arizona, and everywhere in between, what a journey it’s been for Stuart with baseball.
And one phone call — on a bus ride to North Dakota — made it all worth it. Hudson’s Brady Stuart is signing with the Los Angeles Angels.
“Everything happens for a reason, everyone has a different path and it’s not always cookie cutter,” Stuart said. “It’s definitely something that’s super special. Everyone grows up dreaming of playing professional sports and that’s where I’m at right now, but it hasn’t fully settled in yet.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: ‘Doesn’t seem real’: Hudson’s Stuart set to sign contract with Angels
About the Author
