5 collegiate prospects to follow for the Cleveland Guardians at the top of the MLB Draft

1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Possibly the hottest name in college baseball right now is Travis Bazzana. A native of Sydney, Australia, the 6-foot middle infielder is turning heads at Oregon State.

Swinging from the left side of the plate, Bazzana has been making noise with the Beavers for three seasons now. In 2022 he was named a Freshman All-American and followed it up in 2023 with All-American honors, varying from second to third team depending on the outlet. He's a two-time Pac-12 First Team member and a two-time PAC-12 All-Defensive Team representative.

It's been an all-around effort for Bazzana. His bat has been as strong as his glove, and the speed provides clear and present danger. Last year he set the Oregon State single-season record for stolen bases with 36, doing so on 39 attempts. He added 11 home runs and hit .374 on the season.

This year has been no different for Bazzana. While his speed has slowed, only nine swipes, his power is on a different level. He's blasted 20 home runs in 42 games, ripping off 50 RBI. His contact hasn't wavered from it either, far from it. His average is up to .412 on the season to go along with a full slash line of .412/.576/.932, all improvements over his 2023 numbers, especially his slugging jumping from .622 to .932.

The question for the Cleveland Guardians will be where does Bazzana fit in for the long-term picture? He's been predominately a second baseman at Oregon State, and Andres Gimenez has that locked up in Cleveland. Could either move shortstop? Most likely. But then, where do Gabriel Arias, Brayan Rocchio, and others go? That's a question for down the road and a good problem to have. Regardless, it's hard to pass up the talent of a player like Bazzana when he comes on the board. Positions can be sorted outa different time.