Minnesota Blizzard Baseball

Every athlete has a story.  Some are born to be great and there are others who claw their way to the top.  And some come from places we would never expect.  The Minnesota Blizzard’s Conor Bachman is no different.

Living in Singapore last year, Bachman traveled the globe with this club team to play against from around the world. 

“My club team and I would travel to other countries to play against other teams like Australia, Japan or the Philippines in tournaments,” Bachman said.  “Playing in a tournament in Perth, I was invited to go on a USA tour with the Perth Heat.  I gladly accepted.”

This opportunity gave Bachman the chance to work with coaches who played at the collegiate and professional levels and provided him with the proper groundwork to transition to baseball in the U.S.

“The competition here (in the United States) is significantly higher compared to Singapore,” he said.

The jump in competition led to Bachman needing a way to continue his development as a pitcher.  The Woodbury High School sophomore started scouring the Internet and came across the Blizzard.

“I did a lot of research and saw how many division one and college players have come out of the program and I was blown out of the water,” Bachman explained.  “They seemed like the best team out there along with great coaches.  I didn’t think it could get any better than this.”

Bachman has worked hard with the Blizzard coaches and in particular, Adam Barta who said he found the right-hander by accident.  Working with Barta, Bachman has seen his pitches consistently improve.

“Coach Barta showed me a new grip on my slider and as I played with it, the slider became a pitch I was very confident with,” Bachman said. 

With these improvements, Bachman has set goals.  He explained that making the varsity team at Woodbury is the next step to achieving his long-term goals.  Like many of his Blizzard teammates, he is hoping to catch the attention of schools and play collegiate baseball.

While Bachman works hard to achieve his dreams, he also has the support of his family.  Though he has moved many times in the past, he says his dad has supported him and it was an experience with his father that fueled his love of baseball.

“My dad was probably the one who inspired me to play baseball,” Bachman said.  “I remember when I was very young, maybe eight or nine, my dad took me to a Nationals versus Giants game.  Ever since then I’ve loved the game.”

It was at that game he became a fan of the Nationals and found his mentor on the field in Washington pitcher Jordan Zimmerman. 

“”He always gets the job done.  He is aggressive and attacks hitters, making them earn their way on base.  I feel like every time I watch him pitch I learn something new, huge fan.”

From Singapore to Woodbury, Bachman’s drive is evident every time he toes the rubber.  With the help of the Minnesota Blizzard and the support of family and teammates, he will do what it takes to make the best of his career.

“My dream is to play professional baseball but I’m trying to focus more on what I can do now to get there.”