Guardians’ Travis Bazzana, from Land Down Under, talks World Baseball Classic, possible big-league debut

Cleveland Guardians top prospect Travis Bazzana is still puzzled by the origins of his passion for baseball. Hailing from Australia—a nation far more synonymous with cricket and rugby—Bazzana cannot pinpoint the moment the sport took hold of him. Yet that early, inexplicable attraction has carried the 21-year-old second baseman to the cusp of a major-league breakthrough and into conversations about representing his country on the global stage.

Selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bazzana has rocketed through Cleveland’s farm system and now finds himself on the doorstep of a big-league debut. While the Guardians have not set a firm timeline, the organization’s decision-makers have hinted that his advanced bat-to-ball skills and above-average speed could force their hand sooner rather than later.

The Aussie infielder is equally focused on another stage: the World Baseball Classic. Although national-roster spots are fiercely contested, Bazzana’s rapid ascent and positional versatility make him a compelling candidate for Team Australia in the tournament’s next edition. He views the event as both a patriotic opportunity and a chance to test his abilities against elite international competition.

Bazzana’s journey from the baseball outposts of Sydney to the doorstep of the American major leagues underscores the sport’s expanding global footprint. Whether he debuts in a Guardians uniform or dons the green and gold of Australia first, the 21-year-old’s next steps will be closely watched on two continents.