Braxden Stewart '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Braxden Stewart, and I am a catcher. I am starting my Senior year of high school and I have played baseball for 13 years.  

When I was four years old, my dad took me to my older brother’s baseball game. Dad was the coach. After watching for just a few minutes from the dugout, I told my dad, “Dad, I wanna be the Fetcher…” And that right there started my baseball career. That summer, Dad put me behind the plate (even though technically, I was too young for the league), and I fell in love with Baseball.

I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and moved to Arizona this past summer as my dad got a new job. I started my baseball career at 4 years old in our town’s rec league. In Cheyenne, players could not play All Stars until they were 8 years old. For my first three years, I played for Cheyenne Junior League Baseball every summer. The summer before I turned 8, I tried out for All Stars, and was a top pick. In fact, I was invited to play an age group up, but my dad thought that since I was already on the younger side to stick with the 8-year-old All Star team.

For four years, I played for Cheyenne Stars. I was always the starting catcher and played short stop. I alternated in my batting between the first three spots in the order. Our coaches continuously played us up a level, and our team won numerous tournaments throughout the Colorado Front Range, and even won Colorado State in 2017.

When I was 11, an opportunity arose for me to play for a Select 13U team under our American Legion ball club. I tried out and made the team. Our team won numerous tourneys and won state again that year.

The next summer (the summer before the start of my Freshman year in high school), I made the Cheyenne Post 6 Indians team. This team is a part of American Legion ball in Wyoming. On this team, I was again the starting catcher, and was recognized at numerous tourneys both in Wyoming and in Montana for being an outstanding player.

It is important to note that in Wyoming, sadly, high school baseball is not offered. Baseball within the school system is not a sanctioned high school sport. The only high school level program players can access is American Legion ball.  However, as I start my Senior year, I am looking forward to playing at my new high school, Vista Grande High School here in Casa Grande. 

In addition to Baseball, I also wrestled. Being a catcher has certainly taught me how to be one of the toughest. I wrestled both years in junior high, and wrestled Varisty this past season.

Playing college ball is not my only dream after high school. I hope to start my studies in pre-dentistry. My dentist growing up is an amazing person, and I would really like to have a job like he does.

Academically, I am enrolled in the Advanced Placement (AP glasses). This program focuses on a rigorous academic schedule that specializes in advanced-level classes. This year, I was enrolled in AP Human Geography, and next semester, I am taking AP Government. I also took two years of French. Right now, I carry a 3.0 weighted GPA, but am working hard to bring that to a 3.5 GPA.

Personally, my family is one created by adoption. I am the third of four children, and the youngest boy. My parents adopted all of us. My older sister and older brother were born in the U.S. and adopted as infants. I was born in Choochean City, South Korea. Choochean City is a suburb of Seoul. At birth, I was immediately placed into Korean foster care, and I was adopted by my parents and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 6 months old. My younger sister was adopted from the U.S. foster care system. My family values diversity. Our friends lovingly refer to our family as the United Nations as all of us are different ethnicities and originate from different backgrounds. My parents work hard to make sure each of our cultures is taught and valued. And my baseball team loves to cheer for me using my Korean name.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my personal statement. I hope you can see that baseball is everything to me. I really hope I get the chance to play ball at the collegiate level. I look forward to visiting with some of you soon.