The Guardians selected Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the primary total decide of the 2024 novice draft. Bazzana turns into the primary second baseman to ever go 1-1 within the draft, in addition to the primary Australian-born participant taken first total. That is additionally the primary time the Cleveland group has ever had the highest choice within the draft, because the Guardians beat the chances final December to win the draft lottery.
Cleveland performs its playing cards near the vest about its intentions with the highest decide, as a number of names had been linked to the Guards, together with some prospects a bit additional down the draft board. There was some thought that the Guardians may go along with a considerably less-regarded prospect who would take a below-slot signing bonus (the 1-1 decide has an assigned slot worth of $10,570,600), in order that the Guards might unfold their $18,334,000 bonus pool round to a number of gamers.
Whereas it stays to be seen how a lot Bazzana will land together with his bonus, it ended up being one thing of a chalk decide for the Guardians. Fangraphs, Baseball America, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, and The Athletic’s Keith Legislation all ranked Bazzana because the second-best prospect on this yr’s draft class, whereas MLB Pipeline ranked Bazzana on the high of their listing.
Bazzana (who turns 22 in August) had a handful of professional video games underneath his belt already, showing in 19 video games with the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League from 2018-20. Throughout his three seasons at Oregon State, Bazzana crushed NCAA pitching to the tune of 45 homers and a .360/.497/.660 slash line over 904 plate appearances. He added an MVP-level efficiency within the Cape Cod League final summer season, with a 1.037 OPS in 158 PA for Falmouth.
Pundits are united of their reward of Bazzana’s hitting capacity, citing his superior method, bat velocity, laborious contact charges, and plate self-discipline. (The latter issue may’ve notably attracted the Guardians, who’ve lengthy prized batters who can put the ball in play and keep away from strikeouts.) Bazzana is already beginning to present extra energy, with 28 of his 45 Oregon State residence runs coming in his most up-to-date faculty season. Past what he can do on the plate, Bazzana’s plus velocity makes him a risk on the basepaths, stealing 66 bases in 77 makes an attempt in faculty.
Protection is a little bit of a query mark, as second base has been one thing of a default place since Bazzana is taken into account each too athletic to be a primary base-only sort. Baseball America’s scouting report notes that he might doubtlessly play the outfield and even heart subject because of his athleticism, and the presence of Andres Gimenez at second base in Cleveland point out that the Guardians could possibly be open to testing Bazzana at different positions. That mentioned, there’s a consensus that he’ll have the ability to hit every time he finally ends up on the sector.
The Guardians had a 76-88 report in 2023, and would’ve acquired the tenth total decide if the lottery picks adhered on to final season’s group information. Cleveland had solely a two % likelihood of successful the primary total decide, and the Reds (who had been 82-80 in 2023) had one other shocking dose of lottery luck in successful the second decide, making it fairly an evening for Ohio’s two Main League groups.
Within the second yr of the draft lottery’s existence, the Guardians’ shock win underscores the factor of randomness that has now been launched into the draft course of, and the vagaries concerned within the league’s want to curb tanking. Cleveland has been one in all baseball’s most constant successful franchises over the past decade, but its one-year blip in type in 2023 has now paid off handsomely within the type of a blue-chip prospect like Bazzana. The Guards enter the All-Star break again in first place within the AL Central, so each the current and the long run are wanting brilliant in Cleveland.
