Australia’s Travis Bazzana taken No.1 by Cleveland Guardians in 2024 MLB draft

Travis Bazzana has made sporting history for Australia after being taken with the first pick in the Major League Baseball draft.

3 min read

July 15, 2024 - 12:36PM

Travis Bazzana has made history by being selected first overall in the Major League Baseball draft.

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Travis Bazzana has created Australian sporting history being taken with the No.1 pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.

The Oregon State second baseman was selected first overall by the Cleveland Guardians in the MLB draft on Monday morning in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bazzana’s selection marks one of the most significant moments in Australian sports history.

“It means a lot. It is hard to put into words,” Bazzana said after his selection.

“It means everything. I am just stoked and I’m really happy to be with the people I am with right now.

“I see an opportunity to make an impact on a lot of baseball players and a lot of people back home in Australia and hopefully change the narrative for baseball back there.

“I just want to give belief to players back home to go do things in the US and pursue a major league dream.

“Hopefully this is a step towards that.”

History made: Australian Travis Bazzana is the first pick of the 2024 MLB draft, selected by @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/0Wt6luED1i
— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) July 14, 2024

Travis Bazzana has created history by becoming the first Australian to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft..

Bazzana is the first Australian to be chosen in the first round of the MLB draft, and was also the first No.1 pick for the Guardians.

“We view him to be a dynamic player,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said.

“We think he’s got a chance to impact the game in a variety of ways.”

Bazzana had been widely tipped to go No.1 in several MLB mock drafts.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Bazzana’s father Gary said ahead of the draft.

The Bazzana family gathered in a hotel room in Oregon, with a television camera beaming their faces live to millions around the world, while in northern Sydney Travis’ old club Ku-ring-gai Stealers hosted a watch party from 7am with former teammates, coaches and friends awaiting the big announcement.

Ahead of the draft Bazzana told Code Sports’ Tom Minear he wouldn’t be fazed by how the day panned out.

“Everyone’s got their own opinion,” he said.

“I’ve shown what I can do … I’ll be really stoked with whatever the outcome is, but I’m excited for the day.”

HOW TO WATCH THE MLB DRAFT

The draft — held in Fort Worth, Texas — begins on Monday at 9am (AEST) with the first two rounds, and continues on Tuesday (Rounds 3-10) and Wednesday (Rounds 11-20). The draft will be broadcast on ESPN and can be streamed via Kayo.

Watch the 2024 MLB Draft LIVE on ESPN via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The Cleveland Guardians will have the first pick for the first time in franchise history.

WHO IS TRAVIS BAZZANA?

Travis Bazzana grew up in northern Sydney and as a teenager captained Turramurra High School to a state cricket championship.

But baseball was always his passion. He knocked back an offer from a Major League club three years ago and instead opted to attend Oregon State.

This year, 21-year-old Bazzana set an Oregon State single-season record with 84 runs scored, 28 home runs and a .911 slugging percentage.

MLB experts say Bazzana is the “best pure hitter” available in the draft, with the Cleveland Guardians tipped to choose him when the first pick is read out.