Is this the year we\u2019ll see Guardians No. 1 prospect Travis Bazzana in Cleveland? He certainly thinks so.<\/p>\n
As Bazzana opens the 2026 season<\/a> in Triple-A with the Columbus Clippers\u2014the same place he ended the 2025 season\u2014he sat down with us to share his thoughts on what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n How Bazzana spent the offseason<\/p>\n \u201cLast season I finished off the field on the injured list a little bit, so that was unfortunate but I got to go home and rehab my oblique and then spent most of the offseason in Arizona,\u201d Bazzana said. \u201cI was just preparing for the WBC and this season, cleaning up some offensive and defensive things<\/a>, and trying to get myself ready to play a full season.\u201d<\/p>\n Bazzana played in the World Baseball Classic for Australia as their starting second baseman and leadoff hitter and reflected positively on the experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was amazing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was four amazing games that meant a lot, really high intensity with a lot of fans so it was definitely a tournament I\u2019ll remember for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n Priority: Staying on the field<\/p>\n When asked what part of his game he focused on most in the offseason, it wasn\u2019t anything measurable statistically.<\/p>\n \u201cI focused on my body and my physical health really,\u201d he said. \u201cI had a couple injuries last year, and if I\u2019m not out on the field I can\u2019t provide anything on the skill side of things. I’m definitely just trying to prepare for good health and good performance for a long season.\u201d<\/p>\n