Travis Bazzana vs Charlie Condon: Who's the better fit to go No. 1 in 2024 MLB draft?
The 2024 MLB draft is just four days away, and the Cleveland Guardians have the top pick in the three-day event starting Sunday. There are two clear contenders for that spot after they produced stellar numbers in NCAA baseball this season.
Those two contenders are the Oregon State Beavers' Travis Bazzana and the Georgia Bulldogs' Charlie Condon. Here's a look at who is better suited for the Guardians to become the top pick of the draft.
Is Travis Bazzana or Charlie Condon better suited to go No. 1 in the 2024 MLB draft?
Travis Bazzana, Oregon State
In three seasons with the Beavers, Bazzana established himself as one of the most feared hitters in college baseball. During that period, he became the Beavers' all-time leader in home runs (45), walks (180) and stolen bases (66).
This season, Bazzana enjoyed his strongest season. He broke single-season program records for home runs (28), walks (76), stolen bases (36) and runs (84). His exploits at the plate earned first-team All-American honors and the Pac-12 Player of the Year Award while finishing as a Golden Spikes Award finalist.
He ranks as the top prospect for the 2024 MLB draft.
Charlie Condon, Georgia
After taking a redshirt in his freshman season, Condon burst onto the scene in the last two years. He enjoyed arguably one of the greatest individual seasons in college baseball history this year, making him the No. 2 prospect for the 2024 MLB draft.
In his redshirt sophomore season this year, Condon led the country in home runs (37) and batting average (.443), making him just the third player in history to achieve the feat. He also drove in 78 runs and recorded 100 hits.
Along with first-team All-American honors, Condon became Georgia's first winner of the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy and the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award.
Who is better suited for the Cleveland Guardians?
Although the Guardians are leading the AL Central, they desperately need a solid hitter to make a deep run in the postseason. Bazzana is set to become the first Australian-born player to be picked in the first round of the MLB draft regardless of whether the Guardians pick him or not.
However, Condon looks more like the hitter that the Guardians will need in the future. With current third baseman José Ramírez currently aged 31, Condon can be the youngster who can replace Ramirez once he goes through the minor leagues.