Members of the Lewis-Palmer High School Baseball program are celebrating one of their own getting a chance at the big leagues after the Los Angeles Angels picked up the contract of 2018 graduate Brady Choban.
Choban, who wrapped up his collegiate career earlier this year, trained for and played in the MLB Draft League, which invites prospects to prepare for the draft. Although several teams showed interest in Choban during the process, he ultimately didn’t hear his name called during the 2023 MLB Draft.
“I heard a few things before the draft that I might get the call on day two or three, but I didn’t get the call. I was upset for a day or two, as I had worked so hard and my ultimate dream was to be drafted,” Choban said. “But it was back to the grind, and I started to get calls from several teams I didn’t speak to during the drafting process.”
One of those teams was the 2002 World Series Champion Los Angeles Angels, who made Choban a 6-year offer, assigning him to the Rookie League. The farm system for the 30 Major League Baseball clubs is extensive, with more than 100 teams fielding players across the country, starting with the Rookie League, working all the way up to the AAA level.
According to Choban, a major concern for teams scouting him was an elbow injury that required surgical repair, but he feels his tenacity in the face of adversity helped him land within the Angels system.
“I had a mindset of being better when I came back. The usual recovery for Tommy John surgery is 12 months, and I was back to throwing in 10 months. By the 16th month mark, my velocity started to grow and I started to set personal records every week.”
That process may have scared teams away from taking Choban in the draft, but he is seizing this opportunity and has his sights set on climbing the professional baseball ladder.
“Getting the call from the Angels was amazing. It was like all the work paid off, but the job isn’t done yet. Throwing at 100 miles per hour by next year is my new goal, as well as advancing through the minor leagues over the next few years.”
Reflecting on his future goals, Choban thanked the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 and Lewis-Palmer High School systems for helping set him on a path for success.
“They were huge for me, and helped give me a lot of confidence. Coach Brett Lester gave me the freedom to be able to play loosely on the field, as well as being willing to talk any time about school, and getting ready for success at the next level. He was amazing, and all of that combined to help me prepare for college,” Choban said.
For the near future at least, Choban is stationed in Arizona with his Rookie League teammates as they prepare to keep training, the next level firmly set in their sights.