The Cleveland Guardians have only drafted the number one overall pick once and that was this past draft with Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana. The 2024 PAC-12 Player of the Year was the first overall pick to the Guardians, despite many mock drafts leading up to the draft saying the Guardians may try and save some of their bonus pool by drafting someone like JJ Wetherholt out of West Virginia.
The Guardians managed to actually save money when signing Bazzana. The estimated slot value for the number one overall pick this year was a whopping $10.57 million. To put that into perspective, last year’s number one overall pick’s estimated slot value was $9.72 million, and the first overall selection Paul Skenes signed for $9.2 million. That first overall pick would go on to start this year’s All Star Game. Bazzana signed for nearly $2 million under slot value, signing for $8.95 million.
Bazzana, after signing, revealed he’d be assigned to the Guardians High-A affiliate, the Lake County Captains. To some this is a bit of a surprise, as many draft picks straight out of the draft will take some reps in rookie ball to get into the swing of things in professional ball. However, the Guardians are deeming that completely unnecessary for Bazzana, as the college experience he has combined with the numbers he put up should make him more than ready for a more challenging level.
Whether it was playing in the Australian Baseball League as a 15-year old, summer ball with the West Coast League or Cape Cod Baseball League, or Oregon State, Bazzana has excelled. Across seven seasons and four different leagues across the world, Bazzana has hit for a slashline of .371/.485/.628 with an OPS of 1.113 in 281 games. He’s managed to hit 52 home runs as well as tally 100 stolen bases, with 221 walks to 195 strikeouts.
The Guardians may very well have just signed their franchise second baseman, and for a very good deal as he’s signed for less money than the number two and three overall picks, Chase Burns and Charlie Condon. Money aside, Bazzana will undoubtedly become the Guardians top prospect upon the next team Top 30 updates. The Aussie has a chance as well to overtake Jackson Holliday as the top prospect in all of baseball.
