Travis Bazzana made history in 2024, becoming the first Australian to be selected with the top pick in the MLB Draft.
The second baseman was taken by the Cleveland Guardians, after an impressive collegiate career with the Oregon State Beavers.
Since joining the pros, Bazzana has been putting in work for Cleveland’s Double-A affiliate the Akron RubberDucks, but one baseball expert claims his major league debut is still a ways away.
Baseball expert claims Travis Bazzana not close to MLB debut
There isn’t a long list of Australians to play in the MLB, but Aussie baseball fans have eagerly awaited the arrival of Bazzana, the man with the potential to be the next baseball star from Down Under.
@espn_australia_nz When will we see Aussie Travis Bazzana in the Majors? ⚾️ #mlb #espnaustralia #baseball #sports #foryoupage ♬ original sound – ESPN Australia/NZ
But according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Sydney product has work to do before he sees MLB action.
“[Bazzana’s debut] is not anytime soon,” Olney said this week.
“Teams want to see top draft picks go to the minor leagues and dominate for a stretch – he hasn’t done that yet, so far [he’s] hitting .230 in Double A with a .330 on-base percentage.
“The Guardians are an organisation of opportunity for young players, especially for position players because they typically struggle for offence, and if at some point Travis goes off and he has a stretch of [dominant play], a month, six weeks, they will bring him up to the big leagues.
“But to this point that hasn’t happened yet, and by the way that’s not unusual, a lot of players take time to get accustomed to playing professionally.”
Through 26 games for Akron this year, Bazzana has 24 hits from 104 at-bats, including 16 RBI and three home runs.
The Guardians meanwhile sit at 22-15, second in the AL Central and holding the sixth-best record in the entire league.
