Once upon a time, a couple of months ago, Cleveland Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana was on top of the world. He was called up to make his MLB debut in late April and had an incredible May in which he posted a 150 wRC+. He made the All-Star team in July and was mentioned as a potential AL Rookie of the Year candidate.
Fast forward a few months, and the second baseman is barely posting league-average offensive performance, as his 101 wRC+ indicates. His defense is inconsistent, and he has been stuck on nine home runs since July 20.
Obviously, Bazzana’s development hasn’t gone as smoothly as planned. He has earned criticism from writers, scouts, and even some fans, but the kid is a hard worker and is determined to improve. He has come around in recent games, and his improved performance has coincided with the Guardians’ ongoing seven-game winning streak.
Speaking of the team and its current run of form, Bazzana highlighted the resilience of every player on the roster. That trait has fueled some stunning comebacks this week, including erasing five and three-run deficits on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
“There’s just that belief right now of, like, you’re never out of a game,” Bazzana said, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. “When it was 5-0 [on Tuesday], we felt like we were in that game, which is funny. It just shows how powerful the team environment and the mental state is.”
The team is definitely in a groove and went from being 61-66 to a much better 68-66. They were on the verge of losing on Wednesday, but Steven Kwan tied the game with a double in the ninth inning, and Bazzana himself drove in the winning run with a sac fly.
The rookie infielder is slashing a solid .370/.387/.444 with a 130 wRC+, five runs scored, and six RBI in his last seven games, dating back to August 19. The Guardians, as you know, have gone 7-0 in those games.
This goes to show that Bazzana is the catalyst of Cleveland’s offense, the one who raises the ceiling. If he plays well, the team usually does well. It’s that simple.
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