The Cleveland Guardians don’t know what they are going to do yet with Travis Bazzana this season. However, Australia has a plan in place for the second baseman when the World Baseball Classic begins this week.
Australia will play the first game in the 2026 tournament against Chinese Taipei in Japan on Wednesday. The infielder will get to fulfill a lifelong dream as a very important batter.
Bazzana has earned a major role in the World Baseball Classic, with Australia manager Dave Nilsson naming him its leadoff hitter.
“Travis will be leading off and playing second base, I know that much,” Nilsson said.
"Travis will be leading off and playing second base, I know that much."
Dave Nilsson on Team Australia's line-up for Game 1 of WBC.
"Right now we are preparing ourselves as a team. When we know their starting pitcher, I'll make my line up." @WBCBaseball #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/gGyaRFndJe
— Team Australia ⚾️ (@TeamAusBaseball) March 2, 2026
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana’s arrival to the major leagues has been highly anticipated since that selection. However, a series of oblique injuries sidelined him multiple times in his first full minor league season, which has delayed his arrival.
It was thought he already had a place in the Guardians’ 2026 Opening Day lineup, but those plans may have already changed. However, it is likely that he will be promoted at some point during the season.
So far in spring training, Bazzana has gone 2-for-8 in three games played as manager Stephen Vogt tries to decide his best middle infield alignment among fellow contenders Gabriel Arias, Brayan Rocchio, and Juan Brito. Utility player Daniel Schneeman is also off to a hot start this spring.
Now, Bazzana will leave camp to play for Australia, whose next game is Thursday against Czechia. He is one of nine Guardians taking part in the WBC, including Logan Allen (Panama), Dylan DeLucia (Italy), Stuart Fairchild (Chinese Taipei), Matt Festa (Italy), Dayan Frias (Colombia), Bo Naylor (Canada), Ryan Prager (Israel), and Matt Wilkinson (Canada).
If Australia were to advance to the quarterfinals as one of the top two teams in Pool C, Bazzana would be away from the Guardians even longer. His injury history is another possible concern.
Perhaps a good performance in the WBC will carry some weight in the Guardians’ decision-making process when it comes to finalizing their roster.
NEXT: Bruce Drennan Believes Guardians Will Make Big Move With Travis Bazzana
