What Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana said about 1st career home run

The Cleveland Guardians picked up another win on Friday night, handling the Minnesota Twins 6-4 at Progressive Field, while much of the attention centered on rookie infielder Travis Bazzana and his first major league home run.

The 23-year-old second baseman, selected first overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, connected for the milestone blast in the opening inning against Twins starter Connor Prielipp. With two outs and Jose Ramirez aboard, Bazzana crushed a 1-1 slider 427 feet into the bullpen beyond center field, pushing Cleveland’s early lead to 4-0. The ball left his bat at 102.3 mph.

“I don’t remember exactly, but I was basically telling the ball to go,” Bazzana said after the game.

The rookie’s emotion was clear as he pumped his fists leaving the batter’s box before beginning his home run trot. After reaching the dugout, he celebrated with the Guardians’ knight helmet, although he accidentally wore it backward.

Bazzana finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. His impact continued in the eighth inning when he beat out a potential double play after Cleveland successfully challenged the call at first base. He then stole second and third before scoring on an infield single by Austin Hedges.

Through his first nine major league games, Bazzana has recorded six stolen bases, at least seven walks and a .368 on-base percentage. He became only the second player in MLB history to compile a home run, six stolen bases and at least seven walks in his first nine career games, joining Quilvio Veras in 1995. He also became the 10th Australian-born player to homer in the majors and the first to do so for the Guardians.

Bazzana was hitless in his first 12 MLB at-bats but has since gone 6-for-18 with four RBIs while collecting hits in five of his last six games.

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