Get ready to celebrate, Cleveland fans, because it’s a momentous occasion! GRAND SALAMI TIME! On Wednesday night, Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, hit a grand slam, marking the first home run of his professional baseball career. He helped the team win 17-5 in the Midwest League.
The 21-year-old Australian has collected several hits this summer, but this home run was a big deal because it’s the first one. Bazzana hit the grand slam off 25-year-old Caleb Wurster, who is part of the Miami Marlins farm system. Bazzana is hitting .364 with a home run, five RBI, five runs, and a stolen base in three games. He signed for $8.95 million on July 19.
Bazzana has an incredible work ethic. He wants it bad enough. He made some improvements with his bat speed and eye contact. Bazzana is constantly in the batting cage working on his swing. It’s paying off dividends so far. Look at what he did at Oregon State. He had 28 home runs in 60 games this past season, the most by a Pac-12 player while slashing .407/.568/.911. He’s one of the best prospects in Baseball. You can see in his interviews that he wants to learn from others, is well-mannered and doesn’t want to let his family and teammates down. It’s rare to see a top player from Australia be in the bright lights in the Majors. We are witnessing something heroic and it’s a feel-good story.
Is this a sign of great things to come in Ohio?
He has the focus, dedication and work ethic to back it up. Durability and handling pressure will be crucial for him and his career. If everything goes according to plan, we could see him in a Cleveland uniform sometime next season.
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