Guardians make Aussie star Bazzana No. 1 overall pick

If you’re trying to describe the type of hitter the Guardians prefer to have in their organization, you’ll probably think of a gritty, versatile player with elite contact ability, off-the-charts plate discipline and some potential for power.

That’s why Travis Bazzana and Cleveland are a match made in heaven.

• Bazzana comes from a land Down Under to make Draft history

The Guardians selected the Oregon State second baseman with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday. The selection marks two firsts -- the first No. 1 pick in Cleveland's franchise history and the first Australian-born player to be selected No. 1 overall.

• Every No. 1 overall Draft pick in MLB history

“We view him to be a dynamic player,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “We think he’s got a chance to impact the game in a variety of ways.”

• Get to know MLB's No. 1 Draft pick Travis Bazzana

The Guardians added to their Draft haul by selecting prep right-hander Braylon Doughty out of Chaparral High School (California) with the No. 36 overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A. They then took NC State catcher Jacob Cozart at No. 48 overall in the second round.

• Guards add prep pitcher, college catcher with 'ability to thrive'

A 21-year-old native of Hornsby, Australia, Bazzana is a five-tool player and arguably the most talented prospect in this year's Draft, befitting his status as MLB.com’s No. 1 Draft prospect. Here’s why the Guardians thought he was the perfect pick:

Contact ability

Bazzana was offered a contract by the Tigers at age 16, but he chose to bet on himself by taking the college route to boost his stock. To say that gamble paid off would be an understatement.

In 2022, he was named a First Team Freshman All-American by the likes of Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), thanks to his .902 OPS. The next year, he hit a team-high .374 and was a Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American.

Bazzana’s junior season was the best of all, as he finished with a preposterous .407/.568/.911 batting line, finishing second nationally in OPS behind Georgia’s Charlie Condon and being a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which Condon won.

Plate discipline

Bazzana had 180 walks to 146 strikeouts in his three collegiate seasons, including 76 walks this past year with just 37 strikeouts in 60 games. There’s nothing else we need to discuss here.

Power potential

Bazzana’s 45 homers in his three years with Oregon State are the most in school history. He had 28 in 60 games this past year.

Only one Australian-born player in MLB history has more than 30 home runs (Dave Nilsson, who hit 105 in his eight-year career), and according to Baseball Australia, only 38 Aussies have appeared in an MLB game. It seems safe to say that if all goes according to plan, Bazzana could etch his name in some history books.

Athleticism

Though he grew up in a country much more known for cricket, soccer and rugby -- all of which Bazzana played at Turramurra High School, along with track and field and basketball -- baseball was what he loved most, as he quickly took off as an elite prospect. Seeking the best competition, he played some games in the professional Australian Baseball League (ABL) against people twice his age while he was still in high school.

But clearly, the experience he had from playing other sports has helped him become such an athletic baseball player that the Guardians are confident he could move all over the diamond defensively, if they’d eventually choose to do so.

Grit

Over the last few years, each young prospect who made his Major League debut with the Guardians has had the same gritty style of play. They hustle. They embrace a small-ball approach. They have a never-say-die attitude. It’s exactly the type of team Bazzana wanted to join.

Beyond the sheer numbers, what makes Bazzana “the most interesting man in college baseball” according to his agent, Chase Brewer, is his analytical mindset. For example, during his first year at OSU, he conducted research that showed that his chase rate was significantly higher in hitter-friendly counts, leading to his OBP jumping from .423 as a freshman to .500 as a sophomore.

In 2023, Bazzana delivered a 90-minute presentation to Oregon State’s pitchers on what pitches they should be throwing in certain situations. That same season, he reached out to conference rival Rodney Green of Cal for advice on his “walking leadoff” tactic -- one which led to Bazzana finishing with a school-record 36 steals in 2023.

“I always was very competitive growing up,” Bazzana said. “I just always wanted to understand things a little bit deeper and never miss on having that edge.”

It’s a mindset he’s seen reflected in the Guardians’ organization. It’s a mindset this team clearly was attracted to. And now, the two are set to work together to make sure their first No. 1 overall pick is a success story.

“They’re young. They play the game with fire,” Bazzana said. “A lot of these things tick boxes in my head and make me really excited to be a Guardian.”