Aussie makes history at US Major League Baseball draft

Australian Travis Bazzana made history on Sunday in the United States when he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians in Major League Baseball’s annual draft. He’s the first Aussie to ever be taken No. 1 in the draft.  

Who is Travis Bazzana? 

Travis Bazzana is an Australian baseball player. He was born in Horsby. He was born in 2002 and attended Turramurra High School in South Turramurra, a suburb of Sydney. 
 
He was a star cricketer for his high school, leading them to a NSW state championship, but he chose to play baseball instead after graduating.  
 
Bazzana played for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League between 2018 to 2021. He then jumped across the Pacific to Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.  
 
At OSU, Bazzana quickly emerged as one of the Beavers’ best players. He batted over .300 as a freshman (a first-year player) and hit six home runs. The second baseman progressed to another level in his junior year in 2023, batting over .370 on the season. 

In the 2024 NCAA season, Bazzana was named Pac-12 Player of the Year. He hit 28 home runs, breaking an OSU school record, and had a .407 batting average.  

Aussie goes No. 1 

Every year, Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs select from hundreds of the best baseball prospects from around the world in a draft. Players come from US colleges, foreign teams, and even high schools. 
 
Former No. 1 overall picks include MLB Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones. Other legends like Alex Rodriguez and Bryce Harper have also gone No. 1. Now, an Aussie joins this prestigious list.  
 
Hornsby-born Travis Bazzana was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians in Sunday’s MLB draft. He is the first ever Australian to be picked No. 1 overall. 
 
Bazzana, who left Australia to play baseball for American university Oregon State University, is also just the second player from that storied program to be taken No. 1 overall.  

What’s next for Travis Bazzana? 

Unlike other American sports, players taken in the MLB draft are not expected to immediately contribute for their club sides. Bazzana will likely start in the minor leagues before becoming a full-fledged member of the Guardians.  
 
However, many top MLB experts consider Bazzana to be the best hitter from the 2024 MLB draft class. With his talent, these same experts expect him to quickly rise up the ranks through the Guardians’ farm system. 

Bazzana could get a shot with the first team as soon as the start of next season. If the Guardians really need hitters this year, he could even make an appearance in the MLB before the end of this season.