Cleveland Guardians fans know how good Travis Bazzana has been since joining the team in late April. They can see it in his play every day, and they can confirm it by looking at a batting average that has climbed above .300.
What they may not know is how well Bazzana compares to other second basemen in the majors. Even as a rookie with just 27 major league games under his belt, he has impressed manager Stephen Vogt and put himself among the elite players at his position.
New data shows where Bazzana ranks among all MLB second basemen this month, with top-5 performances in several statistical categories.
“Travis Bazzana’s rankings amongst all MLB second baseman in the month of May: 1) OBP .419; 2) BB 13; 2) SB 7; 3) fWAR 1.1; 3) wRC+ 161; 3) AVG .322; 3) OPS .908; 3) BB% 12.4%; 4) 2B 6; 5) SLG .489,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Travis Bazzana's rankings amongst all MLB second baseman in the month of May:
1) OBP .419
2) BB 13
2) SB 7
3) fWAR 1.1
3) wRC+ 161
3) AVG .322
3) OPS .908
3) BB% 12.4%
4) 2B 6
5) SLG .489 https://t.co/7CHdNN8hFL— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 28, 2026
It took a while for Bazzana to make his mark in the majors this season. He was not on Cleveland’s Opening Day roster, though there was some thought heading into spring training that he would be.
He was not promoted at the first opportunity when Gabriel Arias went on the injured list, with Juan Brito getting the call instead. Finally, after Brito cooled off following a hot start, Bazzana was promoted from Triple-A and made his MLB debut on April 28.
He struggled at first, starting his career 0-for-12, but after getting his first hit against the Athletics on May 2, he has not stopped since. He had a seven-game hitting streak from May 13-20, and he now has a current five-game streak after going 2-for-4 with two doubles against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Over those 12 games in the streaks combined, he has 21 hits.
Bazzana has shown he is the real deal with tremendous plate discipline for a rookie, which not only leads to walks but also gives him better pitches to hit. He has a noticeable passion for the game that has injected some life into the Guardians lineup, helping them to a 17-9 record in May.
For the season, he has a slash line of .302/.407/.458, giving him an OPS of .865, with 29 hits, three home runs, and 11 RBIs. The 23-year-old is emerging as a contender for AL Rookie of the Year, along with teammates Chase DeLauter and Parker Messick.
If Bazzana keeps up his current pace, it won’t be long before he’s the actual favorite for the award.
NEXT: ESPN Insider Reveals Concern About Guardians' Top Prospect
