CORVALLIS — Travis Bazzana spent his final season with the Oregon State Beavers re-writing the school record book as he produced one of the greatest individual campaigns in program history.
On Sunday, OSU’s superstar second baseman added another significant milestone to his decorated resume: No. 1 overall draft pick. The Cleveland Guardians took Bazanna with the first pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
“I know (Cleveland) just values the way I have something I’m playing for. I have a passion,” Bazzana said. “I’m playing for something big; I care about this game. I love this game. They know that there’s not going to be quit in me. There’s not going to be complacency. They’re gonna get somebody that is striving to win — striving to win a World Series.
“I’m a competitor and I’m always going to go out and put the team in the best position to win. They love that I’m competitive.”
The signing bonus slot value for the No. 1 overall pick is $10,570,600.
A Sydney, Australia, native, Bazzana is the second Beaver ever to be selected No. 1 overall in an MLB Draft, joining Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles, 2019). He is the 14th first-round pick in OSU history.
“His work ethic, his passions, his ability to be one of the most special guys in the clubhouse at all times,” Oregon State coach Mitch Canham said of why he believes Bazzana will succeed at the big-league level. “I already know people are gonna go to him for advice — for on the field and off the field stuff. He’s going to make great relationships at each affiliate he’s with. Never a worry about him in the clubhouse. That’s one of the things that we’re going to miss: his energy and how he uplifts others and holds others accountable.”
Although he played almost exclusively at second base throughout his Oregon State career, Bazzana spent time at shortstop, third base, and in the outfield during summer ball in the West Coast League and Cape Cod League. His athleticism and positional versatility are part of what has made him such a highly-coveted prospect.
However, he said the initial plan is for him to begin his professional career at second base.
“We’ve had a brief conversation about position,” Bazzana said. “I think they believe that I’m gonna be a good infielder and probably start my journey at second base. But they all believe in my athleticism and think there might be some versatility options as I move. … They believe in me on that front, and they also think that there’s opportunities to play other positions. They believe in their player development and I do to.”
Throughout the 2024 season, Bazzana was a one-man wrecking crew for the Beavers. While hitting out of the leadoff spot, he slashed .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs, 66 RBI, 16 doubles, and 16 stolen bases in 60 games. He set single-season school records for runs, home runs, and slugging percentage, and tied the OSU single-season record with 74 walks.
Bazzana was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and became just the sixth unanimous first-team All-American in program history.
As a sophomore in 2023, he was tabbed as a second-team All-American by multiple publications after slashing .374/.500/.622 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI, and 36 stolen bases.
During his true freshman season in 2022, Bazzana slotted in as OSU’s starting second baseman and hit .306 with six home runs 44 RBI. He was a first-team all-conference selection.
“I mean, I never really counted it out. But I didn’t ever fathom this would be reality until maybe in the middle of the (Cape Cod season) that I thought maybe I could come out as the top pick,” Bazzana said. “I still understood this year that I couldn’t control how the picks turned out. Cleveland could’ve wanted something different. They could’ve wanted a pitcher, or a right-handed hitter, or an outfielder. I could’ve gone out and had my best season ever and still not been the pick.
“Being the best position player in college baseball was my goal and I was going to control what I could control to go do that. The pick stuff would figure itself out. But (the summer) was when I realized I could go and be the best prospect in the class.”
Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X@jarrid_denney