MLB 2024 draft prospect Travis Bazzana on inspring the next generation of Aussie baseballers
Travis Bazzana is the little known Sydney native making waves in America and a top-five predicted MLB draft pick. Meet the 20-year-old who is looking to inspire a new generation of baseball fans.
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Travis Bazzana isn’t a household name in Australia just yet.
But by the time the 2024 Major League Baseball draft rolls around, everyone will know who he is.
The 20-year-old from Wahroonga on Sydney’s northern beaches is the hot tip to be snapped up first in next year’s draft, as he strives to be the first ever Australian picked in the first round.
“I’m draft eligible next July and when I first decided I was going to college, my goal was to be the first Australian first rounder,” Bazzana told this masthead.
“It was an instant goal of mine. If I’m healthy, keep improving and go in with confidence, I’m a good chance of making that happen.”
It’s a modest goal for someone who the experts in America believe has the tools to take that very top spot, but would cap a lifelong dream to get to this point.
“I grew up in Wahroonga and went to Turramurra State High,” he said.
“My two older brothers played while I was a toddler. There was an U6s tee-ball team that didn’t have enough players while I was watching my brother so I joined midway through the season and never stopped from there.
“Coaches and others saw I had a natural talent at about 10, but I knew I wanted to be an MLB player when I was in kindy.
“I was committed to the dream at about 12-13 when I really thought into the process of getting better and finding ways to pave a path (to that dream).”
That path hasn’t always been easy to advance to a top-line college from Australia as Bazzana found out, made tougher by moving abroad during Covid.
“I put a lot of time into training and research, because there wasn’t really anyone to look to going from high school to a power five division conference for baseball,” he said.
“I went on a tour to Arizona with a group of kids trying to get into college. There were a lot of coaches from western conference schools and unis.
“A couple of top schools recruited me, but OSU was the best fit. The coaching staff was on the same page and they had a great winning culture.
“People back home doubted if I could go to Oregon State and achieve success right away. I had to figure out what type of player physically and mentally I had to be.
“It was interesting coming into 2021. There was a lot more documentation and trouble than there normally would have been.”
Since making the move to America, Bazzana has made the locals stand up and take notice with his incredible play.
The second baseman added a Cape Cod League MVP award to his list of honours, including making the Pac-12 First Team, averaging .374 at bat and named as a Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American.
“It’s unbelievable. The baseball team is the talk of the town and we’ve had a lot of success,” he said.
“It’s not a huge town so everyone is focused on it when it’s spring time. I’m in a lucky spot to be able to pursue what I want and get some great academic and life support as well.
“My family have been waking up early to watch games and the support has been unbelievable. Especially from young kids reaching out through social media.”
Bazzana takes great pride in having young Australians following his journey, and said he wants to follow in the footsteps of local NBA legends Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Josh Giddey to help put the sport on the map in Australia.
“That’s my why,” he said.
“Once I hit an age I could take to the game and realise the impact I could have on kids in Australia, seeing the bumps I had in my road and how to pave a certain path for the next generation, I want to instil that belief in what they’re doing.
“At times growing up and having big goals, people would shut them down and make it seem impossible.
“I want people to believe again and change the outlook on the game like our Australians have done in the NBA.
“The success of guys like Bogut and Mills has led to Josh Giddey and Ben Simmons making it. I would love to make an impact that could help start a wave.”
A number of mock drafts have Bazzana as a top-five pick, with the Aussie taking both confidence and motivation from being in that spot.
“It reassures me the way I’ve been expressing my game and me as a person has been paying off,” he said.
“I still use being number two, three or 20 as motivation and finding fuel to improve and asking questions as to why they’re ahead of me, learning how I can be better and grow my game.
“I love seeing people above me. It makes me want to go to that next level.”
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