The Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins on Friday, in large part because of rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana. The former No. 1 overall pick absolutely took over the game and showed the full extent of his potential.
Hitting sixth, Bazzana went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. That hit was his first home run of the season, an impressive blast that showcased his power ceiling.
However, his most impressive contribution came in the eighth, when he manufactured a valuable insurance run almost all by himself. He was at first base with one out when he took off to second and successfully stole it. Then, he executed a double steal with Brayan Rocchio, taking third base. From there, he scored on a single by Austin Hedges.
It’s the second consecutive game in which Bazzana has two thefts. He has six for the season in just nine games, which allowed him to join an exclusive club in MLB history.
“Travis Bazzana has tallied 6 stolen bases in his first 9 career games, becoming the 12th player in MLB history to do so. Other names on the list include Billy Hamilton, former Indian Alex Cole, Vince Coleman & Hall of Famer Tim Raines,” researcher Luke Potosky said.
Travis Bazzana has tallied 6 stolen bases in his first 9 career games, becoming the 12th player in MLB history to do so. 🇦🇺
Other names on the list include Billy Hamilton, former Indian Alex Cole, Vince Coleman & Hall of Famer Tim Raines. 📊#GuardsBall | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/irFiWBBqXx
— Luke Potosky (@LukePotosky) May 9, 2026
Those are some of the greatest basestealers in the history of the game right there, and Bazzana has joined them with six in his first nine MLB games. It goes to show how much he intends to rely on his speed to make a difference.
Bazzana isn’t just quick: he is also a smart baserunner with great timing and instincts to steal bases. In his minor league career, he racked up 25 thefts and was caught just four times. As a major leaguer, he has six steals and hasn’t been caught yet. That’s not luck: that’s skill.
Don’t expect much in the power department this year, although he could reach 10 homers if he picks up the pace and nights like Friday’s become more common. However, he has shown enough on the basepaths to suggest he will make a huge difference there.
Imagine how hard it will be for pitchers to focus when dealing with a man with a .368 OBP and a flawless basetealing record. He will torture opposing hurlers.
NEXT: Guardians Announce Big Trade With Giants
