Bazzana gets 1st chance at setting table for Cleveland

PHILADELPHIA -- Travis Bazzana’s fast ascent in professional baseball continued on Saturday when the Guardians’ 2024 No. 1 overall Draft pick was slotted in the leadoff spot against the Phillies’ starter Zack Wheeler.

The 23-year-old rookie had a .273/.391/.364 slash line in his first 22 games since earning promotion from Triple-A Columbus. He also has shown both solid plate discipline, drawing 13 walks in 92 plate appearances, and some pop, driving in nine runs with a pair of homers -- his first coming on May 8 -- and a double. That, and his seven stolen bases, profiles as someone who can set the table for the Guardians and get in scoring position for No. 2 hitter José Ramírez.

“Just felt like it was a good time for Travis to get an opportunity tonight,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said prior to Saturday’s game. “Don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We’re trying to look to see how this group fits together the best.”

Bazzana batted fifth in the Guardians’ 1-0 victory over Philadelphia on Friday night. Vogt has liked enough of what he has seen in a small sample size from the highly touted second baseman to give him a chance to hit first, though it was not a decision taken lightly.

“Just watching his at-bats the last week,” the manager said of why he made the move now, “you don’t want to put somebody into a position too early. I think some of the mistakes we make with young players is we just assume that they are going to be who they are, or who you think they’re going to grow into, and then you just force them into something.

“Really wanted to give Travis some time before we moved him too far up in the order. But he just again has proven over and over to have quality at-bats. Really like the idea of him getting on base ahead of [Ramírez], causing problems on the bases, all those things.”

Cleveland, which entered Saturday on a seven-game winning streak and victorious in 10 of its last 11 contests, has an opening for a regular leadoff hitter after struggling Steven Kwan was recently demoted from the top spot. Kwan, a two-time All-Star, is slashing .199/.325/.256 in 49 games. He accepted the demotion when it was made on May 16, which was Kwan’s first time not batting first since June 18, 2022.

“I don't want to hurt the team in any way,” Kwan said then. “I think [Vogt] was just respecting me [in previous weeks] and wanting to keep things the same. But I think it's probably been a couple weeks coming, so I have no problem with it.”

The lefty batting Bazzana likely will get a tough test in his new role, as Phillies ace Wheeler was scheduled to oppose him for the game’s first pitch. The three-time All-Star has looked like his former self entering Saturday following thoracic outlet compression surgery that ended Wheeler’s season last August. Wheeler began play 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA, with 30 strikeouts and seven walks in 31 2/3 innings.

Speaking of the entire lineup and not just Bazzana, Vogt said the Guardians need to take advantage of any mistakes Wheeler might make.

“Wheeler is probably one of the best righties in the game,” he said. “Electric fastball with a good split/change off of it and a couple breaking balls. He’s got a lot of weapons to get you. We’ve got to be ready for anything that comes over the heart of the plate. We’ve got to be ready to swing because he throws a lot of strikes.”

On Saturday, Bazzana got that chance first for Cleveland.