Travis Bazzana, selected as the top pick in the MLB draft from Oregon State, officially signed his first pro contract with the Cleveland Guardians on Friday.
Bazzana agreed to a deal worth $8.95 million at Progressive Field, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The contract’s exact amount has not been publicly disclosed. The MLB had valued the top pick at $10.57 million, but Bazzana, a 21-year-old second baseman from Australia, acknowledged he wasn’t expecting full slot money.
“I wanted to join a team where I could thrive, and the way the Guardians approach the game appealed to me,” said Bazzana, who stands at 6-foot-0 and weighs 199 pounds. “My agents understood my preference to be part of the Guardians.”
The left-handed hitter will start with the Class-A Lake County team and might begin his minor league career later this month. Lake County’s stadium is in Eastlake, Ohio, a short drive from downtown Cleveland.
On Saturday, Bazzana is set to take batting practice with the Guardians before their game against San Diego. He is the first-ever No. 1 overall pick in the history of the franchise and also marks the first time a second baseman has been chosen first overall.
“I’ve been watching José Ramírez highlights repeatedly, and now I’ll get to meet him and say hello,” Bazzana commented about Cleveland’s six-time All-Star third baseman. “That’s when it starts to feel real.”
During his tenure at Oregon State, Bazzana compiled a .360 batting average with 45 home runs and 165 RBIs across three seasons. In the current season, he hit .407 with 28 home runs and 66 RBIs.
“I hope sports enthusiasts in Australia will become Guardians fans and follow Major League Baseball,” he added. “It’s thrilling to think the next Travis Bazzana could watch my journey from home.”
