The Guardians selected Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the primary general decide of the 2024 newbie 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 general. 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 would possibly go together 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 along 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 checklist.
Bazzana (who turns 22 in August) had a handful of professional video games below 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 time, with a 1.037 OPS in 158 PA for Falmouth.
Pundits are united of their reward of Bazzana’s hitting capability, citing his superior method, bat pace, onerous contact charges, and plate self-discipline. (The latter issue would possibly’ve significantly 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 pace 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 kind. Baseball America’s scouting report notes that he might probably play the outfield and even middle area resulting from his athleticism, and the presence of Andres Gimenez at second base in Cleveland point out that the Guardians might be open to testing Bazzana at different positions. That mentioned, there’s a consensus that he’ll be capable of hit each time he finally ends up on the sphere.
The Guardians had a 76-88 document in 2023, and would’ve acquired the tenth general decide if the lottery picks adhered on to final season’s staff information. Cleveland had solely a two p.c likelihood of successful the primary general 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 component of randomness that has now been launched into the draft course of, and the vagaries concerned within the league’s need to curb tanking. Cleveland has been one among baseball’s most constant successful franchises over the past decade, but its one-year blip in kind 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 trying shiny in Cleveland.
