White Thrilled With The Opportunity To Play D1 Baseball

Hudson White LHP / OF / Holy Heart of Mary, NL / 2024

ST. JOHN’S, NL - It is not easy to get noticed living in Newfoundland, but Hudson White has found a college destination at Illinois State, 46 hours from his Canadian home.

“They saw me at the Future Games two years ago, that was a big step in the process,” the Holy Heart of Mary High School junior reflected. “That was the first time I got out of the province in front of college coaches.”

Additional exposure came playing at the Future Games a second time as well as playing for Bo Jackson Elite in Ohio. A visit to the university in Normal, Ill., eventually took place on Feb. 8.

“It felt like home, the coaching staff was really nice to my family,” White related. “I come from a small area of the world and it wasn’t hectic there like it is at some of the other schools. It was really laid back like at home, real simple. It felt like a safe place to be for four years after leaving my family for the first time.

“Obviously it's far from home, but that’s a commitment you’ve got to make,” White added. “I’ll be the first from my family to go to college and the first to play college baseball. It’s a big commitment to make, but I’m fired up about it.”

Participating in the Future Games twice was a big part of becoming a Division I college recruit according to the 16-year-old.

“Ultimately, that’s what set me up for the commitment,” White said of playing for Team Canada at the prestigious PBR event in Georgia the past two summers. “Being with other talents got me set up in front of eyes I never thought would see me. That gave me an opportunity to be seen and to keep playing with a shot to try out for my national team.”

Illinois State found a lot to admire in the 6-4 195-pound southpaw, called “one of the top prospects we’ve seen during our time covering the East Coast,” by PBR Canada assistant scouting director Can Black-Araujo.

“They like the way I compete,” White explained about ISU. “They said they had a tough time recruiting lately and that they wanted more left-handed pitchers. They like the low amount of innings on my arm and said I’d be a good fit. My confidence is good and I look forward to pitching on weekends.”

Improvement helped pave the way to the college baseball dream.

“I’ve gotten a lot bigger and stronger,” White said. “I’ve also become a more intelligent pitcher getting after it day after day manipulating the hitter’s timing, stuff like that.”

Still, the prospect of playing D-I baseball in the United States was a long shot.

“I never envisioned this,” White admitted. “But baseball is on the rise here, we’re starting to get facilities and coaches are reaching out. A couple of guys here are now playing Division I.”

White is excited to join Jay Miller, now at UNC Greensboro, and Cole Tucker at Niagara, as players from Newfoundland getting a shot at the next level.

“I started playing baseball at a young age,” White reflected. “I was a multi-sport guy playing baseball and hockey, and neither one stood out to me. But once I got rolling with baseball we got a big facility here 15 minutes away.

“At the age of 13 turning 14 I was asked to do a PBR. It was the first one in Atlantic Canada. I had a good arm and thought why not give it a shot. As time went on I had more opportunities.”

White pointed to a large list of people who have helped along the way.

“My family put me in a good space to get out there and I’m looking forward to paying them back,” White said.

Others that were huge in getting where he is today include strength coach Dan Hearn, mentor Ryan Sweeney, pitching coach Noah Anderson, summer coach Cory Valentine and PBR Director of Scouting George Halim.

“It was a lot tougher to get seen since Covid,” White related. “The price of flights went up so I had to pick and choose and understand what was best for me. What helped was being on Team Canada and I’m grateful that happened.”

To find a home was quite a thrill according to White.

“It was an anxious process, more of a relief to get it off my plate,” White said. “I was excited, my family was excited and everyone in my hometown was excited. It doesn’t happen much around here. Now I’ve got to work to get better and continue to grow.”

White, who carries a 3.8 GPA in high school, has plans to major in kinesiology at the Missouri Valley Conference university.

“I’m looking forward to just being with a team, I enjoy that stuff,” White said. “I can’t wait to face good competition in front of thousands of fans. Playing in front of the hometown fans is going to be great. They really support the Redbirds.”