The Guardians announced this afternoon that last year’s first overall pick Travis Bazzana has been diagnosed with a right internal oblique strain. The top second base prospect hasn’t played since suffering the injury last Wednesday. The team noted that such injuries usually sideline a player for eight to ten weeks, so Bazzana will be out into the second half of the season.
That obviously hurts his chances of reaching the big leagues before the end of the year. Top college draftees fairly regularly reach the majors by the end of their first full professional season. A pair of first-rounders from last year’s class, Cam Smith and Nick Kurtz, have already debuted. Sixth overall pick Jac Caglianone, a first baseman/outfielder in the Kansas City system, might not be far off after receiving a promotion to Triple-A today.
Bazzana, an Oregon State product, has spent the entire season at Double-A Akron. The lefty-hitting infielder carries a .252/.362/.433 line with four homers across 149 plate appearances. That’s well above-average in the extremely pitcher-friendly league. (The average Eastern League hitter owns a .229/.317/.366 slash line.) Bazzana is striking out at a somewhat worrying 26.2% clip, but he’d begun to find his stride at the plate. He was hitting .279/.392/.512 this month after posting a .238/.347/.393 mark in April.
Daniel Schneemann has stepped up as Stephen Vogt’s primary second baseman. The second-year utilityman already has six homers with a .265/.339/.500 slash across 110 plate appearances. Schneemann had played a multi-positional role off the bench early in the year. Gabriel Arias was starting at second base to begin the season, but he kicked over to shortstop when the Guards optioned the scuffling Brayan Rocchio last week.
Not a goodday mate
This is not bonzer, whatsoever. So far, this wally has been an absolute plonker.
He probably wasnt going to be rushed by the end of the year anyways but I still expect him to be their 2026 opening day 2nd baseman
Not a chance.
He’s got a lot of Ks in his resume right now.
No Juan brito will be the starting second base next year. Travis banzana will playing center field next year for the guardians. Lane Thomas is a free agent at the end of the year .
Bazzana will remain a second baseman unless his glove fails him. Brito has a chance to play right but then who doesn’t? If delauter ever plays he has first call in center/dh/right. Martinez could get center too. Thomas, santana, wilson, noel, are short timers. Rochio, kayfus, schneeman are the bench. Who knows who catches?
I’m also in favor of Bazzana moving to CF sooner rather than later, it makes the most sense from every perspective. But this will slow his arrival in Cleveland (which is fine) until mid 2026 at the earliest. Juan Brito should get a full shot at second base since he’s not nearly as versatile a defender.
What makes anyone think he will succeed in center? Nothing in his profile supports that.
Not to mention he has been exclusively playing 2nd this year.
More likely Schnee will be a potential centerfielder, if his stats hold up. He has actually spent a few games there at the ML level.
It’s the exact same profile that says he can be a second baseman, so I don’t understand the reluctance.
The issue is this: guys who can play decently enough at second and hit are more numerous than guys who can play CF and hit at all. In CF, Bazzana would be a clear difference maker.
He has the raw athleticism and speed, and CF doesn’t require the finer motor skills second base does. When he was drafted, it was posited by many that his likely destination was the outfield.
Let’s start the process. We have other middle infielders. We are short in the OF, particularly in center.
Thought Travis Bazzana was in Savannah
Bazzana-na!
“Doo-doo doo doodoo”
That’s a shame. Watching him play, despite the numbers, he certainly looked like a major league hitter. He just needs to find that consistency, which he looked to be on his way this month.