Travis Bazzana is entering one of the most important stretches of professional baseball career so far. The Cleveland Guardians’ top prospect will not only be making an appearance during training camp, but he’s also set to represent Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic.
Bazzana spoke with the media on Thursday and shared the team’s plan for him this spring.
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“It’s been nice being around Vogt this year. We’ve had some good conversations, and I think the focus is gonna be on prepping me for the World Baseball Classic and beyond by getting me some quality reps prior to that.
The Guardians open up their Cactus League schedule on Saturday with a split-squad day, with half the team staying in Goodyear to take on the Cincinnati Reds, and the rest hitting the road to play the Milwaukee Brewers.
RubberDucks’ Travis Bazzana follows a long fly ball at the wall in a game against the Altoona Curve on April 13, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at Canal Park. {Phil Masturzo/Beacon Journal}
With two games going on at the same time, Bazzana should get plenty of playing time right out of the gate with the Guardians.
Bazzana continued that he’s not focused on numbers this spring, but his goal is to “just have great at-bats, making an impact on defense, and start to get to know the guys in the clubhouse and the dugout the best I can. Really, just make the most of every plate appearance, hit some ball, hit some balls hard and make an impact.”
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As Bazzana noted, playing time will be his focus early in camp. In terms of where he’ll play, Vogt also shared on Thursday that Bazzana will get his playing time at second base on defense, since that’s where he’s most comfortable. The Guardians don’t appear ready to move him around the diamond, if ever.
It certainly feels like 2026 will be the season that we finally see Bazzana get the call and make his MLB debut. That opportunity could have come in 2025 if an oblique injury hadn’t forced Bazzana to miss six weeks in the middle of the season.
The big question looming, though, is when.
If Bazzana impresses in his playing time this spring and makes a big impact for Team Australia during the WBC, that promotion could come sooner in the season rather than later.
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