Pitching Pipeline Delivers Again with Tristan Blum

 

There might be something in the water when it comes to Fox Chapel Area pitching stars.

One of the most talented juniors on the Foxes baseball team is pitcher and centerfielder Tristan Blum. He returns with an extra title: Kent State commit.

Tristan is the third player in as many years to be recruited to play Division I baseball. Senior Blake Krushinski has committed to West Virginia University, and 2025 graduate Jeremy Haigh, a southpaw first-team all-state honoree, now plays for Wagner University. 

Notably, all three Foxes pitchers earned athletic scholarships and are also standout defensive players. 

New Year, New Goals

Tristan entered the 2026 campaign with an impressive résumé from his sophomore season: a .373 batting average, a 2.02 ERA, opponents batting .151, and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. 

His pitching talent is well documented. He consistently throws a fastball in the low 90s and has hit as high as 93 mph. As a centerfielder, he has solid instincts, gets an excellent jump on the ball, and seems to run down everything hit his way. Even more, he accomplished all of this in a tough section with many skilled pitchers from opposing teams.  

While he enjoys playing wherever he is on the field, pitching is where his passion lies and where he believes he excels the most. 

“As much as I love hitting and fielding, I love the pressure and concentration that comes with being a pitcher,” he says.

Young Star on the Rise  

Tristan was only 3 years old when he became interested in baseball. Even then, he was happy just being around the sport, even if it was only to carry a ball and bat. He doesn’t remember why he started playing, just that he has loved the sport for as long as he can remember.

“Baseball has always been my passion sport,” he says. “I’ve played soccer, football, and basketball, but none of them gave me the same thrill as baseball.”

Fox Chapel Area head coach Jim Hastings has known of Tristan for years. 

“I heard about him and his ability level since he was 10 or 11 years old,” he says. “I got to see a closer look at him when he started playing for us at the middle school in seventh grade, and could see that he was a special player, to say the least. I do remember one summer, I think he was 12, and they were playing in a tournament at Emmerling Park. I’m pretty sure he hit six home runs in consecutive at-bats. I don’t care what age or level you are in; that is an incredible feat.” 

'Tremendous Character'

According to coach Hastings, natural ability is essential to be a good player, but reaching Tristan’s level requires a deep commitment to getting better. That includes participating in baseball activities outside of school practices and games, weightlifting, and training on his own to improve his speed and conditioning. 

Tristan has taken on all those tasks to keep developing as a player while maintaining honor roll status every semester. 

“He has tremendous character and is a very responsible and mature kid who shows leadership qualities,” coach Hastings says. “He is the kid on the team who is helping clean up when not being asked to. It just speaks volumes of who he is as a person and leader for our team.”

Tristan recognizes that his strong family ties are one of his biggest influences. 

“My dad has been a great coach for me since I first started playing, my mom has been a huge support and help for me in baseball and outside, my sister comes to almost every game, and my grandparents on both my mom's and dad’s side have helped so much from when I was young,” he says. “One of my biggest drives is my (older) brother. Ever since I was little, I have always tried to work my hardest to beat him in anything, and my competition with him always pushed me to become better at the sport.”