Australian Travis Bazzana called up for MLB debut

Travis Bazzana, the $12.5m man and 2024 first overall pick, has been called up to the Cleveland Guardians and is expected to make his debut, becoming the 39th Australian to play MLB.

The 23-year-old from Hornsby has been playing in Triple-A — the level below the Major League — and has a .287 batting average in his 24 games this year, hitting two home runs.

Bazzana represented Australia at the World Baseball Classic in March this year, hitting a home run in Australia’s 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei.

After playing cricket until the age of 15, the Hornsby product began playing tee-ball in Sydney and left for college at 17. After a successful stint at Oregon State, Bazzana proved himself as one of the best college baseball players, earning selection as the first player picked in the 2024 draft.

When he was drafted, he pocketed an estimated $12.5m and became the first player ever from Australia to be selected with the first overall pick.

The Cleveland Guardians are hosting the Tampa Bay Rays this week, with Bazzana expected to make his debut during the four-game series.

The series begins on Wednesday at 8:10am AEST.

He will become just the second active Australian in the MLB, alongside Adelaide-born Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals.

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