Opening Day is upon us and the Cleveland Guardians are relying on a crop of young hitters to elevate their offense perhaps more than any other team in MLB. Rhys Hoskins was the only notable addition in free agency, so there is a lot of pressure on guys like Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio, Gabriel Arias, Kyle Manzardo, CJ Kayfus, and George Valera to take big steps forward in their development.
There is a ton of talent in that locker room, but one big prospect who might be the most talented of the bunch is 2024 first overall pick Travis Bazzana, who will begin the year in Triple-A. He has had a strong camp and is breathing down Rocchio and Arias’ necks, which is why he was recently named as a prospect to watch this year.
Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis, and Jonathan Mayo recently wrote an article for MLB.com highlighting one prospect from Triple-A to watch out for from every MLB team. For the Guardians, Bazzana was the obvious selection, as they noted that his numbers could take a big leap from last year.
“Travis Bazzana, 2B (No. 1/MLB No. 20),” Dykstra, Callis, and Mayo wrote. “The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Oregon State reached Triple-A at the end of his first full pro season and will start his second there, with his big league debut on the not-too-distant horizon. He slashed .246/.383/.430 between the top two levels of the Minors a year ago while dealing with an oblique strain, numbers that don’t fully attest to his plate discipline, hitting ability and plus raw power.”
Bazzana showed off his trademark power both in Spring Training and in the World Baseball Classic for Australia, and if Arias and Rocchio once again fail to post an OPS over .650, the calls for a Bazzana promotion are going to get loud quickly.
Middle infield production is arguably this team’s biggest unknown, but it’s comforting to know that a top prospect is waiting in the wings. Of course, you never want to rush a top prospect, especially since Bazzana didn’t tear it up in Triple-A last year, but things can change quickly if he carries over his spring success to Columbus.
These are exciting times to be a Guardians fan. A lot of big prospects are now on the roster, and the biggest one of all is potentially just weeks away.
NEXT: Insider Predicts Young Guardians Pitcher Will Be An All-Star
