Seeing Blodgett’s Talent Is No Problem at All

Every time Jake Blodgett of Culver City High takes the mound or steps into the batter’s box, he exemplifies determination and perseverance.

Watching him pitch or hit, there are no visible clues as to what he has overcome.

It’s only after staring into his eyes that his secret is revealed.

His right eye doesn’t move. It’s a prosthesis. Seventeen years ago, Blodgett was born with only one eye.

He started playing baseball when he was 9. Considering the importance of hand-eye coordination, it wouldn’t seem the wisest choice.

But he has confounded the skeptics and inspired others by playing the game as if nothing were wrong.

And, in Blodgett’s world, nothing is.

“People who have handicaps similar to mine should know they can do whatever they want because it hasn’t affected me,” he said. “I don’t think it’s ever been a problem. Everything I do I’ve learned with just one eye.”

Last season, as a 5-foot-10 sophomore right-hander, he was Culver City’s No. 2 pitcher, going 3-3 with a 2.33 earned-run average. He also had seven hits in 13 at-bats.

This season, Blodgett and Loyola Marymount-bound Jeremy Burrell give the Centaurs an experienced one-two pitching punch.

In his season debut against North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, Blodgett gave up two hits and one run in three innings of a 2-1 victory.

“It’s the inner desire to compete,” Coach Rick Prieto said. “It comes down to pride. Every game, every pitch, he competes.”

If you want to know who inspires Blodgett, it’s his twin, Nick, who was also born with only one eye. Except Nick’s vision problems are far worse. He didn’t have a left eye, and his right eye has required 15 surgeries to prevent blindness. He uses a special device to enlarge letters.

The brothers are close to being straight-A students, and Jake says he admires what Nick has accomplished.

“He’s so good at things I’m not so good at, amazing things that I couldn’t think of if you gave me years,” Jake said. “He writes short stories, scripts, poetry, comic books.”

But Jake’s baseball teammates offer testimony as to what he has achieved in a game that is tough enough for competitors with perfect vision.

“He’s amazing,” Burrell said. “I tried to cover my eye once, and it’s impossible, and the way he does it is awesome. I’ve caught him before, and the way he hits his spots is better than most.”

Blodgett says he has made adjustments, such as opening his batting stance and turning his head so he can see the pitcher better when hitting. In the field at first base, he needs to turn his head to keep track of a runner.

Mostly, though, he refuses to blame any failure on his vision.

“It would be a great excuse to say I struck out because I couldn’t see,” he said. “In the end, that’s not going to help me.”

So Blodgett keeps playing and insists on being treated like any other player.

“I don’t think it’s really been a factor,” he said. “Then again, I’ve never had the experience of having two eyes to know what the difference is. Maybe it’s easier, maybe not.”

Blodgett’s father, Paul, calls his twins “my heroes.”

“When things got thrown in their way, they stepped up and kept going,” he said.

One of the few times Blodgett remembers his eye coming into play was in a youth game. He had cosmetic surgery and was wearing an eye patch. The opposing coach, at first, didn’t want him to be allowed to pitch. That only motivated him more.

“I struck out his kid,” he said.

Blodgett used to wear goggles as protection for his good eye. Now he has a pair of sports glasses with a prescription that aid him on the field.

One of Blodgett’s youth coaches was the late Harry Usher, the general manager for the 1984 Olympic Games. Usher told Blodgett, “Jake, you can do anything.”

Jake follows that advice every time he puts on his uniform.

“I’m going to try to get to the highest level I can, regardless of what anybody says,” he said.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.