The Cleveland Guardians made a historic move by selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday night. Bazzana’s selection marks the first time a second baseman has been chosen as the top pick in the draft, as well as the first time an Australian-born player has been selected in the first round.
Bazzana had been heavily rumored to be Cleveland’s top choice leading up to the draft. His impressive performance throughout the season solidified his position as the top prospect. CBS Sports ranked Bazzana as the No. 2 prospect in the draft class. Here’s what they had to say about him:
Throughout the spring, there were strong indications that the Guardians had a special interest in Bazzana, unlike anything seen in previous draft cycles. Bazzana’s exceptional stats for the year, including a .416 batting average, 28 home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a remarkable 40 more walks than strikeouts, only reinforced Cleveland’s admiration for him. Bazzana’s combination of strength, speed, plate discipline, and hitting prowess set him apart from his peers. Despite some concerns about his physical limitations, particularly his arm strength, Bazzana’s overall skill set and character have garnered high praise. Recent industry buzz has once again pointed to Bazzana as the favorite for the top pick. If chosen, he would make history as the first second baseman to go No. 1.
At 21 years old, Bazzana had a stellar season, boasting a slash line of .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs, 78 walks, and only 37 strikeouts in 60 games. While the Guardians already have Andrés Giménez at second base, selecting the best player available with the No. 1 pick was their priority.
This draft marked the first time in franchise history that Cleveland held the first overall pick. The Guardians had previously picked second five times, with the most recent being in 1992 when they selected right-hander Paul Shuey from UNC. Cleveland has also had five other top-five selections in the past.
Bazzana’s selection as the No. 1 pick not only makes him the first Beaver drafted in the first round since Cooper Hjerpe in 2021 but also the third top-five pick in Oregon State’s program history. He joins the ranks of Adley Rutschman (No. 1, 2019) and Nick Madrigal (No. 4, 2018) as one of the program’s top draft picks. Additionally, Bazzana is the first Australian-born player to be chosen in the first round.
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