No. 1 pick Travis Bazzana signed with the Cleveland Guardians, putting his autograph on a deal worth $8.95 million on Friday before being formally introduced by the franchise.
Bazzana was selected first overall from Oregon State in the 2024 MLB Draft last week. The value of the No. 1 pick draft slot was over $10 million, and the Cincinnati Reds’ agreement with No. 2 pick Chase Burns was for a total of $9.25 million.
The 2024 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Bazzana batted .407 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs for the Beavers, who advanced to a super regional as the No. 15 national seed before losing a three-game series at second-seeded Kentucky.
Bazzana is the first second baseman — and first Australian — to ever be selected with the No. 1 overall pick. He set an Oregon State single-season record by scoring 84 runs and slugging .911 in 2024. Bazzana also stole 16 bases and boasted a .568 on-base percentage last season, earning consensus first-team All-America status.
It was the first time that Cleveland had the top overall selection. It earned it after winning the draft lottery despite not having the worst regular-season record last year.