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Why Aussie MLB playoffs debutant is an ‘MVP-type’ as wild play proves he is ‘that guy’
Bazzana goes ham.. not once but TWICE! | 01:00Travis Bazzana has taken the MLB by storm in his rookie season, helping the Cleveland Guardians secure back-to-back-to-back AL Central Division championships.
Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, has done just about everything in his first season in the majors. From becoming an All-Star in his rookie season to mingling with NBA superstar Kevin Durant and producing at the plate throughout the year, the Australian has quickly made his mark on the league. Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Since being called up on April 28, Bazzana has barely missed a beat, featuring in 124 games and quickly establishing himself as a key part of the Guardians’ line-up. Now, with the MLB playoffs beginning, we look at the incredible rookie campaign from the 24-year-old as he and the Guardians prepare to try and win the franchise’s first World Series since 1948.
“If you put September up this year, his numbers in September have been MVP-type numbers almost,” Brooke Knight, who coached Bazzana at the Corvallis Knights before the Australian began his college career at Oregon State, told foxsports.com.au. “I think Travis is that guy. ” The Australian quickly established himself as an important part of the Guardians’ line-up during his rookie campaign.
Across 124 games, the Australian has recorded 110 hits, 22 doubles, 15 home runs and 57 RBIs , while also scoring 56 runs. He finishes the regular season with a .245 batting average, .335 on-base percentage and .743 OPS , putting together a strong all-round rookie campaign in his first taste of Major League Baseball.
But while those numbers tell part of the story, Bazzana’s rapid rise and the impression he has made in the US goes well beyond the box score. And for Knight, many of the traits now on display in the majors were evident long before he became the No. 1 overall pick.
“He’s been a huge part of that team,” Knight told foxsports.com.au. Source: Getty Images “I think anybody in that organisation would probably tell you that they may not be quite where they’re at today without Travis and his energy and what he brings to the ballpark every single day. ” For Knight, it was not only Bazzana’s natural ability which stood out during their time together, but an almost obsessive desire to improve.
“I think intense would be an understatement, but I think probably the right word is just maniacal towards growth,” Knight said. “That’s how he’s approached his entire baseball career, no matter what level he’s been at. ” Bazzana would secure the first hit of his Major League career on May 3, producing a two-run single in front of his family and friends which had them going wild in the stands.
It was the start of an impressive rookie campaign, and one that has certainly had the States talking. While the MLB may not have the same reach as the NBA or NFL, plenty of US pundits and those covering the Guardians closely have been impressed by the Australian throughout his rookie campaign. ESPN’s Sam Block pointed towards Bazzana’s impact as Cleveland turned its season around and made its push towards the postseason.
“Travis Bazzana is incredible. ”“Travis Bazzana is going to be one of the greatest players this franchise has ever seen, man,” Always the Jake posted on September 19.
“The way Travis Bazzana runs reflects how badly he wants to win. ”“He’s competitive from the moment I met him,” Knight said.
“Nobody was going to outwork him. So, you know, it’s a lot easier to lead when you’ve got that type of work ethic. ” For Justin Lada, co-host of the Locked On Guardians podcast, Bazzana’s improvement in the field has been another area which has stood out.
“I am not surprised. “Not sure where he ends up defensively but I figured he’d put in the meaningful work to improve and I’d say he clearly has. ” That fielding and desire to win was put on display when Bazzana made an incredible diving play before getting to first base to record the out.
“What a play by Travis Bazzana! Great job covering your teammate there,” they said. Despite his strong rookie season, Bazzana did have to battle through a slump in form. Zack Meisel of The Athletic referred to the stretch as the “proverbial rookie wall”, with Bazzana playing significantly more baseball than he had in previous seasons.
“He’s up to 136 games in his first big-league season , compared to 84 last year in the minors and 87 the year before between Oregon State and Class A Lake County,” Meisel wrote. But after hitting that wall, the Australian was able to find his form again at a crucial time for Cleveland.
“Bazzana has discovered a second wind, though, at the most pivotal time for the Guardians,” Meisel wrote. “He said he had been pressuring himself to fix every deficiency that was surfacing in his game. ” Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal also highlighted Bazzana’s struggles during August, where his form dipped both at the plate and defensively.
“Bazzana had been scuffling for a few weeks, as he posted just a .566 OPS in the month of August, and it accompanied a higher number of defensive miscues at second base,” Lewis wrote. “Then he connected on a Jacob Waguespack offering and drilled it over the centre field wall to tie it. “Bazzana stared at the celebrating home dugout as the ball left the ballpark.
“It was a stoic beginning to an explosive display of emotion that took place once he rounded third and began to yell back to his teammates. ” But as all good fairytales go, Bazzana was able to turn things around and find some incredible form for the Guardians in September. Through the early stages of the month, Bazzana was hitting above .370 with a 1.167 OPS, while adding two home runs, nine RBIs and five walks.
The former No. 1 overall pick had found his second wind and was doing his part to help push Cleveland towards the postseason. And after battling through arguably the toughest stretch of his rookie campaign just weeks earlier, Bazzana was once again showing why he had quickly become such an important part of the Guardians’ line-up. A clear driving factor was the prospect of playing postseason baseball, something Bazzana spoke about with reporters on September 12.
“You know, it gives you that extra little fire for the day when you know you got to win and you’re a step closer to winning the division. “I feel really good about where I’m at right now and I’m just enjoying every day. “But I think it gives us a good feeling and an extra boost of energy to go get it done in September.
”While Bazzana’s September surge came after arguably the toughest stretch of his rookie season, his former coach believes the Australian has always had the mentality to find a way through failure.
“It’s just a matter of time that he’s going to find a way to get on the other side of failure,” Knight said. And while Bazzana’s performances have done plenty of the talking, his personality has also been on display throughout his first season in the majors. After challenging an umpire’s strike call on one occasion, Bazzana immediately looked back following the unsuccessful review and simply admitted, “my bad”.
Then there was his decision to walk out to Men at Work’s iconic Australian hit ‘Down Under’ for an at-bat, which had the Cleveland crowd going wild. From the No. 1 overall pick to an MLB All-Star and now preparing for his first taste of postseason baseball, Bazzana has certainly made his mark in America.
When asked whether Bazzana could develop into one of the genuine stars of Major League Baseball, Knight said Bazzana has the ability and the intangibles to become far more than simply a player who sticks around at Major League level. The 24-year-old produced an impressive September as the Guardians made their push towards the playoffs.
And when asked whether Bazzana truly belonged in the majors and had the potential to build a career which could last another decade, Knight was emphatic.
“He’s not only kind of opened the door, he kind of just kicked it in and said, ‘Hey, I’m here to stay. ’ “If this guy stays healthy, he’s going to be there a long time and put up some pretty exciting numbers. ” From Australia to the No. 1 overall pick and now an important part of a Cleveland team heading into the postseason, Bazzana has already come a long way.
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