In a historic moment for Australian baseball, Travis Bazzana became the first Australian and first second baseman to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Baseball's amateur draft by the Cleveland Guardians.
Travis Bazzana, a former cricket, rugby, and soccer player from Australia, has etched his name into baseball history after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Cleveland Guardians. Bazzana, 21, made the switch to baseball while attending Oregon State University, where he emerged as a standout second baseman with an impressive .407 batting average, 28 home runs, and 66 RBIs this season.
His selection as the No. 1 pick marks a watershed moment for Australian baseball, as he becomes the first player from his country to achieve this honor. It is also the first time a second baseman has been taken with the top overall selection. Bazzana expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to make an impact on baseball in Australia and around the world.
During his three seasons at Oregon State, Bazzana displayed exceptional hitting skills, compiling a .360 batting average with 45 home runs, 165 RBIs, 180 walks, and 66 stolen bases. Cleveland's president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, lauded Bazzana's pitch recognition, swing decisions, and ability to drive the ball.
Bazzana's journey to the top of the MLB draft was inspired by Australian MLB players Ryan Rowland-Smith and Trent Oeltjen, who paved the way for him to pursue his dreams. He faced minimal expectations upon arriving at Oregon State, which allowed him to thrive without pressure.
The No. 1 selection comes with a slot value of $10,570,600 under the bonus pools system. Cleveland was awarded the top pick for the first time since the draft's inception in 1965. Notably, just 10 high school players were among the 30 first-round picks this year.
Wake Forest University also made its mark in the draft, with three players being selected in the top 10: right-hander Chase Burns (second overall to Cincinnati), first baseman Nick Kurtz (fourth overall to Oakland), and third baseman/outfielder Seaver King (10th overall to Washington).
Other notable picks included Charlie Condon (third overall to Colorado), Hagen Smith (fifth overall to Chicago White Sox), and Jac Caglianone (sixth overall to Kansas City), a two-way player who both pitches and plays first base.
West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt (seventh overall to St. Louis) and Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore (eighth overall to Los Angeles Angels) also joined the ranks of first-round selections. Konnor Griffin (ninth overall to Pittsburgh) became the first high school player picked, while James Tibbs III (13th overall to San Francisco) and Cam Smith (14th overall to Chicago Cubs) represented Florida State University.
The 2023 MLB Draft marks a significant milestone for baseball, with the emergence of new stars and the continued globalization of the sport.
