Stuart Makes Quick Impression On Gardner Webb

Matthew Stuart RHP / RHP / Chelmsford High, MA / 2025

CHELMSFORD, Ma. - The only time Gardner Webb witnessed Matt Stuart pitch was in late July at the Prep Baseball 17U National Championships.

“They saw me for the first and only time at the LakePoint PBR Tournament,” the Chelmsford senior reflected. “I was pitching and sitting 88-90 and they texted me afterward to come on a visit to the campus. Three days later I was on their campus. I love the facilities and it’s a Christian school which I like. A week after I was offered. It was a good offer. I loved everything about it and decided to take it.”

Wofford, Bryant, Northeastern and Holy Cross were other schools showing an interest in Stuart, but it was the university in Boiling Springs, N.C., 15 hours away from home, that impressed Stuart the most.

“Most of the colleges I was in contact with were taking a while, but they saw me throw and liked me,” Stuart explained.

Gardner Webb took to the 6-2 225-pounder immediately.

“They like how competitive I was on the mound and how much I wanted to win,” the 16th-ranked 2025 in New England noted. “They also liked my mechanics.”

Improvement also shined during his recruitment.

“I gained almost a mile an hour every time I was on the mound the three weeks before I committed,” Stuart pointed out. “I spent a lot of time in the weight room and with my pitching coach in the offseason.”

It was “in seventh or eighth grade” when the strong desire to play at the next level began for Stuart.

“That’s when I really started to watch it,” the 11th-ranked senior in Massachusetts said about college baseball. “I knew some of the guys playing and I wanted to follow in their footsteps and play at the highest level.”

A passion to excel has been helpful according to the 18-year-old.

“I’m very competitive,” the 31st-rated 2025 in New England explained. “I go out there with the mentality that I’m better than everyone.”

The belief by Stuart is that it can prove beneficial at Gardner Webb.

“I hope to start as a freshman, if not be a bullpen guy that gets innings,” Stuart said. “I’m someone who is going to try his hardest.”

AAU coach Kevin Barnaby is credited by Stuart with playing a major role in contacting coaches in a recruiting process that has come to an end.

“It took a lot of stress off my shoulders,” the sixth-ranked senior right-handed pitcher in Massachusetts said about his commitment to the Big South Conference school. “Obviously it’s a big decision. It calmed me down knowing where I’m going.”

There is an understanding that more improvement is needed to make an impact at Gardner Webb.

“I need to be more flexible,” Stuart said. “I want to figure out how the body works so I can move better on the mound.”

Sport management will be the college major for Stuart, a 3.0 student at Chelmsford who loves the challenge baseball presents him as a pitcher.

“It’s a mental game,” Stuart explained. “There is no time limit. You’ve got to throw the pitch and beat the kid in the box.”

That is just part of what he is looking forward to doing when it comes to life at college.

“I can’t wait to make friends on the team and in the classroom to hang around with,” Stuart concluded. “I’m looking forward to doing that and playing baseball as much as I can.”