Australian international star Travis Bazzana makes MLB debut
Travis Bazzana, a 23-year-old international baseball star, made his much anticipated Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, April 28, in front of 16,213 fans at Progressive Field. Bazzana batted seventh and played second base.
Nick Martinez and three relievers limited the Guardians to four hits as the Tampa Bay Rays won the pitching duel, 1-0.
Bazzana went 0-for-2. Reliever Cole Sulser intentionally walked the Australian rookie with the potential tying run at second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Bazzana made his professional debut as a 16-year-old in the 2018-2019 Australian Baseball League for the Sydney Blue Sox. He represented Australia at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019 and the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022 before moving to the United States.
The Cleveland Guardians drafted Bazzana out of Oregon State University as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. After becoming the first Australian No. 1 draft pick, Bazzana made his professional debut in 2024, playing 27 games at Class A Advanced. He made the Australian roster for the WBSC Premier12 2024.
In 2025, he played only 84 games (seven at the Rookie level, 51 at Double-A and 26 at Triple-A) due to injuries. He still hit nine home runs and 17 doubles. "That was unfortunate last year, but I feel like I addressed a lot of the things that are going to help me not have that occur again," Bazzana commented.
The Guardians were impressed by Bazzana's work ethic at Spring Training. "I spent a lot of time with him, and I would say he's one of our best coaches. He just happens to coach himself," Guardians assistant general manager James Harris said in March. "He knows exactly what he does well. He knows what he needs to work on. He motivates himself, and he partners well with us. If we could pay someone to follow him around to tell him all the things that he already knows, like we'd be out of jobs."
Bazzana played four games for Australia in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, going 3-for-16 with a home run and two RBIs.
He became the 11th No. 1 overall pick to play in a WBSC international event and in the Major Leagues. He is only the second player to represent a country other than USA.
Right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes (2023 Draft) played for the USA U-12 National Team and in the World Baseball Classic; shortstop Jackson Holliday (2022) played for the USA U-18 National Team; outfielder Mickey Moniak (2016) played for the USA U-15 and U18 National Teams; outfielder and first baseman Bryce Harper (2010) helped USA win the U-18 Pan Am Games in 2009; right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2009) helped USA win the 2008 University World Championship and a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics; shortstop Justin Upton (2005) played for the USA U-18 National Team; shortstop and relief pitcher Matt Bush (2004) played for the USA U-16 and U-18 National Teams; outfielder Delmon Young (2003) played for the U-16 National Team and helped USA win a bronze medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2013; catcher Joe Mauer (2001) played for the U-16 National Team, helped USA win a bronze medal at the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2002 and played in the 2003 Americas Olympic Qualifier.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez (2000) represented Mexico in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Left-handed pitcher Brady Aiken (2014), who helped USA win the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2013, is one of the only three No. 1 draft picks who never made it to the Big Leagues. The other two are catcher Steve Chilcott (born in 1948) and left-handed pitcher Brien Taylor (born in 1971). Aiken is currently a sports agent.
Cover photo: Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images