The Cleveland Guardians lost their top prospect, Travis Bazzana, in mid-May to a severe oblique strain.
He was forced to sit and rehab for multiple weeks, until he made it to the Arizona Complex League to play his first rehab game on July 5.
That’s almost two months from his injury, and that time lost was very valuable for his development.
Injuries happen, though, and the Guardians know it all too well.
Bazzana has played five rehab games in the ACL, and the most recent one saw him complete a major step in his way back from injury.
“Cleveland Guardians 22yr old (2B) prospect Travis Bazzana AB tonight vs the Padres on his rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League. Bazzana finished 0-4 at the plate. The best news is he played all 9 innings on defense for the first time rehabbing out in Arizona. Now that he’s completed playing an entire game Bazzana is very close to heading out to an affiliate. Most likely scenario is back to (Double-A) Akron,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old (2B) prospect Travis Bazzana AB tonight vs the Padres on his rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League.
Bazzana finished 0-4 at the plate. The best news is he played all 9 innings on defense for the first time rehabbing out in Arizona.
Now… pic.twitter.com/9ApLnulWWM
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 15, 2025
For reference, Bazzana had been playing for Akron since the start of the season until the moment he went down.
He was relatively close to a call-up to Triple-A Columbus, but he got hurt, and those plans were ditched.
It sounds like he will go back to Akron to pick up where he left off, and if he can keep showing he is much better than the average player there, he might find himself in Columbus soon.
From there, he will be a call away from Cleveland.
There is an outside chance the second baseman, who is sporting a 138 wRC+ with four home runs and eight stolen bases in 33 Double-A games, sees the majors at some point this year.
For now, we can say he’s ready to return to Akron, as he can play a full defensive game with no issues.
NEXT: Guardians Go Heavy On Pitching In Day 2 Of The Draft
