cleveland patron calling the former number 1 pick travis bazanThe second baseman has been drafted into an improved offense as they attempt to capture their third consecutive American League Central title, sources told ESPN on Monday night.
Bazana, 23, joins Cleveland after hitting .287/.422/.511 with two home runs, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 24 games at Triple-A Columbus. Selected with the first pick out of Oregon State in the 2024 draft, which has already featured nine first-rounders making their MLB debut, Bazana is expected to take over as the full-time second baseman, a job shared by the struggling rookie juan brito and utilitarian Daniel SchneemannWho has been one of Cleveland’s best hitters.
Most likely to debut for Cleveland since francisco lindor In 2015, left-handed hitter Bazana, a native of Hornsby, Australia, entered the season as the No. 23 prospect in Kelly McDaniel’s top 100 for ESPN. Bazana, who has shown power, speed and plate discipline (21 walks and 25 strikeouts in Triple-A), is expected to be a long-term addition to improve the top of the Guardians’ lineup.
Around the seven-time All-Star jose ramirez is a rookie outfielder Chase Delautershortstop brian rocioleft fielder angel martinez and Bazana – all 24 or younger. Add in a strong start by Schneemann, who is hitting .318/.400/.561, and Cleveland’s lineup ranks 19th in MLB with 118 runs batted in — the same as division leaders Cincinnati and Seattle, who are World Series contenders in the AL. Last year, the Guardians finished 28th in terms of runs scored.
Bazana is the latest player to reach the big leagues from the bonanza 2024 draft class. He follows right hand cincinnati Chase Burns (No. 2 overall), A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz (No. 4), Kansas City outfielder jack caglianone (No. 6), St. Louis second baseman JJ Weatherholt (number 7), Los Angeles Angels Second baseman Christian Moore (No. 8), Pittsburgh shortstop Connor Griffin (No. 9), Houston outfielder cam smith (number 14), New York Mets outfielder carson benz (No. 19) and the Toronto right-hander trey yesways (No. 20).
Cleveland could have left Bazana in the minors in hopes of keeping him from being eligible for a fourth season of arbitration, but he was called up for the second game of a three-game series against Tampa Bay at Progressive Field. The Guardians lost the first game of the series 3–2 and fell to 15–15, half a game behind first-place Detroit.
