Source : ABC NEWS
Australia’s Travis Bazzana has made his long-awaited MLB debut for the Cleveland Guardians, coming out to bat to Men at Work’s song Down Under.
Facing the Tampa Bay Rays, Bazzana was greeted with a warm reception from the home crowd in Cleveland, as the Australian rock classic was played on the ground’s PA system.
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Bazzana chose Down Under, saying his parents Gary and Jenny told him he needed an Australian walk-up song.
“I would always be like, ‘People know I’m Australian. Why would I do that?’,” he said.
“I just had this inkling the last couple of months that I felt like that would be special to start my career.
“Just like, that’s my favourite kind of iconic Australian song and it’s a cliché, but I think it’s a good start.”
Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks on his debut.
He batted seventh and played second base.
The Rays edged the Guardians 1-0 to extend their winning streak to six games.
The Guardians have dropped four straight games and five of their last six.
Bazzana was called up from Triple-A Columbus to make his debut.
The 23-year-old is the top prospect in the Guardians’ organisation.
Bazzana is batting .287 with two home runs, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games for Columbus.
Travis Bazzana was kept busy in the field against the Rays. (Getty Images: Nick Cammett)
He is leading the International League with nine doubles and is tied for first in extra-base hits with 15. He reached base safely in his last 13 games.
Bazzana, the first Australian player to be the top overall pick in the MLB draft, said he found out on Monday AEST that he was being called up by the Guardians.
His parents had already decided to make the trip to the United States around this time and arrived on Tuesday AEST.
“My mum was smiling and crying at the same time,” Bazzana said in the lead-up to his debut.
“Very excited, very emotional, and my dad was shocked and just very excited.”
Bazzana is the 14th player from the 2024 draft class to reach the majors.
He is the ninth position player and the seventh top-10 pick.
Bazzana’s path to the majors hit a bump last season when he missed two months because of an oblique strain.
He showed his potential during the World Baseball Classic, when he had two hits and a home run for Australia in its 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei.
AP/Reuters
