Travis Bazzana trains under intense heat to make his dreams a reality, fueled by a "chip on his shoulder"
Top MLB prospect and Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana used to train under intense heat in suburban Sydney, Australia, to achieve his goal of becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Now, he's just hours away from turning that dream a reality, as the 21-year-old former cricketer is set to be called the top selection in the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ty’Relle Harris, Bazzana’s former Sydney Blue Sox teammate and mentor, witnessed how the young infielder put on the work under intense heat in a shed at the Blacktown International Sportspark
That's not all. Travis, who was then 16, would take a walk or ride a bicycle going to gyms in Brisbane and New Zealand to strengthen his body and get ready for future competitions.
Harris admired Bazzana's hard work and desire to become successful, describing the young prospect as a special athlete.
“It was like, this kid is 16, I’m like 32 in my career, and he’s doing things to be like that. And I’m thinking, ‘Man, this kid’s already doing things at the professional level and most 16-year-old kids, even in America, they’re not doing this.
"They’re not taking it to this extent. So right away I’m thinking, ‘This kid’s special’... and if he’s going to push his work ethic like this, there’s really no limit,” Harris said.
Bazzana aims to prove to the people who had told him during his baseball journey to be a realist and stay between the lines. He wants to make history by becoming the first Australian-born player to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the MLB draft and eventually a superstar major leaguer.
Harris believes the Oregon State slugger has a chip on his shoulder, seeking to prove that he's good enough to be an MLB player.
“The truth is there’s this chip on his shoulder. When you see him play with all that energy and all that passion, yes he loves the game, yes he’s very good at the game, he has tools that some kids don’t possess, but the biggest thing is he wants to prove to people who he is," Harris said.
Travis Bazzana aims to prove he's ready for MLB
Ty’Relle Harris believes that Travis Bazzana has the tools and enormous drive to show everyone he can make it to the big stage.
During his stint with the Oregon State Beavers, Bazzana hit .360 with 45 home runs and 165 RBIs. He also scored 220 runs and had slugging and on-base percentages of .660 and .497, respectively.
The past season was Bazzana's banner year, as he went .407 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs and led the Beavers to the NCAA Tournament, where they reached the Super Regional.
He's now nearing the fulfillment of his long-time dream, with experts placing him as the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians. Once MLB commissioner Rob Manfred calls the name of the young Australian, expect his friends and family, and even his fellow countrymen to celebrate.
Bazzana is cherished in his native land, with Baseball Australia National Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell calling the young infielder the centerpiece for the 2032 Olympics and the catalyst for the next generation.
The stage is now set for Travis Bazzana to make it big in the MLB, and he has the annual draft to make that first impression.
Will the Cleveland Guardians pick Travis Bazzana as the No. 1 overall pick in this year's MLB draft? Let's know your views in the comments section: