Early last week, the Cleveland Guardians called up former Oregon State star Travis Bazzana. Bazzana, the first overall pick in Major League Baseball’s 2024 amateur draft, hit a bumpy road in his first few games at the major league level. In his first two games late last month, he went hitless.Now, the Aussie has found his form. Last night, Bazzana hit his first ever big league home run.
With Cleveland already ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first, the Guardians’ rookie second baseman battled fellow rookie Conner Prielipp. The Minnesota Twins’ lefty tried to fit a slider low and in, but Bazzana found it. In the blink of an eye, the former Oregon State standout launched the ball 102 miles per hour past the fence in right center field.
The home run is the latest sign of a career crescendo for Bazzana, who is recovering from the hitless slump which haunted his arrival to the majors. On the road May 2nd against the Athletics, Bazzana slugged his first career base hit. The world-class athlete from Sydney, Australia’s most populous city, singled off of A’s reliever Hogan Harris, and the bouncing ball up the middle beat out diving efforts from the A’s infield. For added measure, the play scored two runs, helping the Cleveland defeat their foes in Sacramento. Bazzana added two more hits the following game May 3rd, a hit and two stolen bases last Thursday May 7th at the Kansas City Royals. and last night’s awesome display: the two run homer, and two stolen bases…