Bazzana expected to make immediate impact on team as second baseman
Bazzana, rated as best pure hitter in draft class with a 65 grade for hit tool on the 20-80 scouting scale
Cleveland Guardians select Australian Travis Bazzana as No. 1 pick in 2024 MLB Draft
Cleveland Guardians selection of Travis Bazzana is major win and has energized fans
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti views Bazzana as dynamic player with chance to impact game in various ways
July 15, 2024: Charlie Condon and the Biggest Winners and Losers from Day 1 of 2024 MLB Draft
The first day of the 2024 MLB draft is in the books, with history being made by the Cleveland Guardians as they selected Travis Bazzana as the first Australian to go No. 1 overall in the MLB draft. Bazzana, rated as the best pure hitter in this year's draft class with a 65 grade for hit tool on the 20-80 scouting scale, offers plus power and speed. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti views Bazzana as a dynamic player with a chance to impact the game in various ways. The second baseman is expected to make an immediate impact on the team.
The Cleveland Guardians made quite a splash with their selection, but they weren't the only ones making significant moves. Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft:
Winners:
Cleveland Guardians: Selecting Travis Bazzana as the first Australian to go No. 1 overall in the MLB draft is a major win for the Guardians. Bazzana's skills are expected to translate well to the professional level, and his selection has energized fans.
Travis Bazzana: A historic moment for Bazzana, who becomes the first Australian to be selected No. 1 overall in the MLB draft. This is a major achievement for him and opens up a world of opportunities.
Losers:
NC State: The Cleveland Guardians' selection of Jacob Cozart in the second round can be considered a loss for NC State, as they lose one of their promising players. Cozart was an unexpected selection and had been projected to go later in the draft.
The 2024 MLB Draft is far from over, but Day 1 has already provided some exciting moments and storylines. As the remaining rounds unfold, we'll see which teams continue to make smart selections and which players rise to the occasion.
Cleveland Guardians drafted Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with a unique pick number in the first round.
NC State catcher Jacob Cozart was an unexpected selection by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round.
Accuracy
The first round of the 2024 MLB Draft mostly consisted of players who were ranked in the top 100.
Cleveland Guardians selected Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with their first pick and NC State catcher Jacob Cozart in the second round.
Colorado Rockies drafted Golden Spikes winner Charlie Condon and Iowa right-hander Brody Brecht.
Arizona Diamondbacks picked high school outfielder Slade Caldwell, Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt, and Wisconsin infielder JD Dix.
Jac Caglianone was selected as a two-way player by the Kansas City Royals.
New York Mets drafted Carson Benge and Duke left-hander Jonathan Santucci.
Seattle Mariners picked switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and prep right-hander Ryan Sloan.
Washington Nationals selected Wake Forest shortstop/centerfielder Seaver King, high-upside high school infielder Luke Dickerson, and Cal catcher Caleb Lomavita.
Braylon Payne was a surprise pick by Milwaukee at 17 overall and Dante Nori was a surprise pick by Philadelphia at 27th overall.
Most of the famous players in the draft went lower than expected, such as Vance Honeycutt going to Baltimore at pick 22.
The best available players for Day 2 include Peyton Stovall, Kevin Bazzell, Dakota Jordan, D’Marion Terrell, Gage Miller, Jared Jones, Connor Gatwood, Dax Whitney and Mike Sirota.
