Utility player Braidy Birdsall (Saskatoon, Sask.) was selected by Boston in the fifth round of the inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League draft in November. Photo: Baseball Canada

*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on November 27, 2025. You can read it here.

December 1, 2025

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

When Braidy Birdsall puts her mind to something, nothing is getting in her way.

Even when facing injuries, she’s the first to pick herself back up and get motivated to overcome the obstacle.

It’s a mindset that has served her well as an athlete, first in martial arts karate before moving onto baseball, a sport which she is all-in on as a player, coach and umpire.

Now, Birdsall is on the cusp of playing on the biggest stage after being selected by Boston in the fifth round of the new Women’s Pro Baseball League draft.

It wasn’t something she was certain would happen, given an injury that she’s still battling, but is grateful to have the opportunity to show off her skills when she’s healthy again.

“Coming into the draft, I was just happy to be there and didn’t really have any expectations,” Birdsall told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “When I saw my name … that was absolutely incredible.”

The utility player says the reality and enormity of the history-making draft is still hitting her, as she hopes her story can serve as inspiration for a new generation of ball players.

EVERYDAY HUSTLIN’

There was a time when baseball wasn’t even on Birdsall’s radar.

Her first sports love was karate, where she was competed both nationally and internationally.

Birdsall’s first foray onto the diamond came with her hometown Saskatoon Royals, where she played for six years before joining Baseball Sask’s 14U squad.

“I wasn’t the best player,” she laughed. “I was pretty inconsistent.”

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Listen to Saskatchewan Dugout Stories interview Braidy Birdsall here.

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Birdsall did, however, have a great work ethic and a love of the game, which made it difficult for the provincial team to leave her off the 16U team in 2022 and 2023.

She was also a part of Saskatchewan’s 21U and Women’s Open teams in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Those experiences made her realize there was a national team to aspire to, and she set a goal of making it to Baseball Canada in two years.

LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MEND

Unfortunately for Birdsall, injuries always seemed to come up at the most inopportune times.

From a torn labrum and quad to a broken leg (not all baseball-related), the aspiring national team player says she’s had to learn to pace herself while training as hard as she can.

The resiliency she’s needed has been a big part of why she keeps seeing success.

“I think just having the mindset that I’ll always come back from that and this isn’t the end,” Birdsall said. “Even six months ago when I hurt my back and was almost facing surgery, I wasn’t worried because I knew I was going to come back.”

Even though the back injury forced her to the sidelines for Baseball Sask and, ultimately, Baseball Canada in 2025, she stayed involved in the game as a coach and umpire.

Birdsall was recognized for her efforts by being named the Baseball Sask’s Lou Slotsve Junior Official of the Year.

“There are just so many aspects of the game and I enjoy every single aspect of it,” she said.

“I enjoy putting my time into umpiring, I enjoy coaching, and I enjoy giving back to all the girls and the town that basically allowed me to play baseball and get to this point. I’m just happy to contribute if I can.”

NEVER HURTS TO TRY

When Birdsall learned that the Women’s Pro Baseball League was holding open tryouts, she again put her best foot forward.

Even though she wasn’t able to suit up, she thought she would submit a video of her in action.

“I was just hoping they would at least take a look at me or keep me in mind for future years,” Birdsall said.

The 19-year-old’s submission was enough to get her past the initial 600 women who were being considered and landed her on the draft-eligible list heading into November 20.

Sitting alone in her dorm room in Sudbury, Ont., where she’s going to school, Birdsall decided to FaceTime her parents to watch the draft together.

She admits she was nervous as the rounds went on, while simultaneously being excited about the number of Canadians having been picked.

Then the fifth round came around and Birdsall was taken with the 85th overall selection by Boston, although she admits it didn’t dawn on her right away about what had just happened.

“I think it actually hit me a couple of minutes after when they wrapped it all up,” she said. “I was sitting there and I’m like ‘holy crap, I’m actually going to be doing this.’”

The right-hitting infielder quickly started looking up the WPBL training facilities and other important information to get herself ready for what the next year might bring.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Since sustaining her back injury, Birdsall has been hard at work focusing on strength and stability with everyday visits to the gym.

She had actually stopped baseball-related activities to deal with core and rotational strength, but after getting drafted, she thought she would switch things up.

“I haven’t actually touched a baseball until today,” Birdsall said a day after the draft. “I thought today was the greatest day to start getting back at it.”

Learning some lessons from previous injuries, her goal is to take it slow and steady, listening to her body at every step so that she can be the best she can be heading into 2026.

Before long, it will be time to report to training camp with Boston in a league that will feature 20 Canadians including fellow Saskatoon product Addie Ziebart, who was taken 86th overall by New York.

Birdsall says they are all “incredible human beings” and can’t wait to share the world stage with them all.

“Canada can be underestimated a lot of times as our programs are still growing,” she said. “The draft shows that we can produce good talent and will help younger girls coming up to have better programs to start with so they can get there as well.”

Aware of her potential place in history, Birdsall is excited to share where her journey has taken her so far, and the places she’s about to go next.

McFarland: Determined Birdsall preparing to start pro career in Boston