Travis Bazzana Makes Early Rookie of the Year Case

Travis Bazzana hits second career home run  

The rookie’s two-run blast helped Cleveland beat Detroit 4-3. Manager Stephen Vogt praised Bazzana’s steady impact since arriving.

On a $780,000 rookie deal, Bazzana is hitting .288 and could end Cleveland’s 36-year wait for a Rookie of the Year award...

Travis Bazzana hit his second career home run on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old Sydneysider launched a two-run shot in the fourth inning to give the Cleveland Guardians a 3-2 lead over the Detroit Tigers.

The homer came just three weeks after his major league debut. Bazzana has not yet reached 130 at-bats, so he still holds rookie status. His strong start moved him up to No. 13 on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect rankings in this week’s update.

Bazzana’s home run traveled 358 feet to right field. It left the bat at 97.3 mph, which is 156 kph.

 

Cleveland went on to win the game 4-3. It was their sixth win in seven games, following series victories against the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds.

 

When he hit his second career home run, Bazzana had a .288 batting average and a .420 on-base percentage. Those numbers give Guardians fans plenty of reason to be excited about his future.

Bazzana is on a one-year pre-arbitration rookie contract worth a reported US$780,000, or about AU$1.1 million.

 

Travis Bazzana lifts off for his 2nd career homer! pic.twitter.com/TOFSCYSn1A

— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2026

If he keeps improving, Bazzana could make a late-season push for Rookie of the Year. The award has not gone to a Guardians player in 36 years. The last time was in 1990, when catcher Sandy Alomar Jr hit nine home runs, 26 doubles, and batted .290 in his debut season.

Manager Stephen Vogt said of Bazzana’s recent play, “It's just been steady, ever since he got here,” after the rookie recorded his first three-hit game.

“Travis doesn't try to do too much. We know he's got pull-side power, but teams aren't challenging him in right now. They're pitching away, and if you keep doing what you're doing, you keep driving the ball the other way, guess what they have to do? They gotta start challenging you in.”

“He's taking his walks, playing good defence. Good base-running.“