Blake Bedard isn’t playing every day right now. That’s worth saying up front, because the rest of this story makes a lot more sense in that context.
The Faith Lutheran freshman is hitting .333 this spring, has given up one earned run with four strikeouts across four innings on the mound, and is ranked seventh among third basemen in Nevada’s Class of 2029 by Prep Baseball Report.
He does all of this while fighting for playing time on a JV roster at one of the most competitive 5A programs in the state — a program where even the JV spots aren’t handed out freely.
“At the beginning of the season it was a little hard to handle not playing every game,” he says. “But I have learned to make the most out of all my opportunities.”
That sentence — understated, honest, and a little bit earned — is a pretty good summary of where Blake Bedard is right now.
The Physical Foundation
Before getting into what Bedard does on the field, it’s worth understanding what’s happened off of it. In the last eight months, his physical transformation has been among the most notable in the entire Top Tier program.
“From a physical standpoint, his transformation in the last eight months has been as special as any in the program,” says Top Tier Director Patrick Flowers. “He’s got plenty of projectability left in the frame, and he’s already a pretty advanced bat-to-ball guy with a great feel for the game and what he’s trying to do — whether at the plate, in the field, or on the mound. On his current trajectory, we’re going to be having some really fun conversations about what comes next for Blake’s future.”
That projection, paired with the production he’s already generating, is what makes Bedard one of the more interesting freshman profiles in Nevada baseball right now. He’s not just a good player for his age — he’s a player whose best baseball is clearly still well ahead of him.
Two Ways
Ask Bedard where he’s most comfortable and the answer is honest and direct.
“The bat is definitely my strong suit,” he says, “but my work on the mound is not far behind. With a little more velocity, I can definitely see myself becoming a legitimate two-way player later in my career.”
That self-assessment is accurate.
At the plate, Bedard is an advanced bat-to-ball hitter with a mature approach for a freshman. “I’ve always been taught to stay middle-away and react in,” he explains. “A good at-bat to me is working the pitcher’s count and looking for a pitch to drive. When it gets to two strikes, I widen my stance and eliminate my toe tap — just trying to put the ball in play and hit it hard.”
The results back it up. He’s hit for power to both gaps and isn’t just surviving against older pitching — he’s producing.
On the mound, he works with a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. “The ball has been looking very big on the mound,” he says. “My arsenal has been feeling locked in and I’ve been able to locate any of my pitches.” His go-to is the fastball, and the approach is sensible for a pitcher his age. “It will continue to be that unless hitters show me they can hit it.”
One earned run in four innings, with four strikeouts. They haven’t shown him yet.
Faith Lutheran, the Depth Chart, and What It’s Teaching Him
Playing JV at Faith Lutheran isn’t a slight — it’s a reality check about what it means to be a freshman at one of the valley’s top programs. The depth runs deep, the standards are high, and consistent playing time at any level within that program has to be earned.
Bedard’s early response to inconsistent playing time was honest frustration. But the version of him that emerged from it is more useful than the one that went in.
“I have learned to take it as a learning opportunity and to stay ready and not just zone out,” he says. The limited reps have sharpened his focus rather than dulled it. “I am even more ready for whenever I do get my chance,” he says. “It has also allowed me to see what some of my teammates do that aren’t the best — so I can see how to beat them and get into that lineup and make sure I stay there.”
That competitive awareness — studying the situation, identifying what it takes, and using the bench as a classroom rather than a punishment — is not a common trait in freshmen. It’s the kind of thing that tends to separate the players who figure it out from the ones who don’t.
According to Bedard, Top Tier has provided a release valve through all of it.
“Training here has allowed me to take some of the pressure off and realize that baseball is one of the hardest sports — and that if you fail three out of ten times you’re still considered great,” he says. “It has allowed me to clear my head and realize that I am still good and I do deserve to be playing.”
The Summer
After a spring defined by limited opportunities and quiet production when those opportunities came, Bedard is ready to step into a bigger arena.
The summer showcase circuit represents something different from what he’s been dealing with at Faith Lutheran — more reps, more competition, and coaches who have no preconceived notions about where he fits on a depth chart.
He’s direct about what he wants to do with that opportunity. “I’m excited to play the best of the best and show that I can be one of the top hitters not only in the state but in the country.”
That’s a bold thing to say. But when the coaching staff around you is already talking about the conversations they’re looking forward to having about your future, and you’re a ranked freshman who’s been hitting .444 while fighting for playing time, maybe bold is exactly the right posture to carry into the summer.
“I want to send the message that I’m ready for this opportunity,” he says. “And show everyone that I’m one to keep an eye on.”
After eight months of physical transformation, a spring of limited reps handled the right way, and a two-way game that’s still developing toward something significant — Blake Bedard has earned the right to say that.
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