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Travis Bazzana shows power, athleticism in Guardians win over Twins
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- Travis Bazzana shows power, athleticism in Guardians win over Twins
CLEVELAND — Rookie Travis Bazzana displayed both the power and athleticism Friday, May 8, the Guardians liked so much they made him the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
Bazzana hit his first MLB home run, stole two bases, scored two runs and helped turn a double play to contribute to the Guardians' 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on a rainy night before a crowd of 19,030 at Progressive Field.
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"He's an animal," Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick said of Bazzana. "He loves the game of baseball. He takes it very serious every at-bat. Every time he's on first base, every play in the infield, he's locked in. There's never a time where you'll catch him not playing the game hard.
"It's really fun to be his teammate. He's one of those guys that are super emotional when he gets a big swing. It's kind of fun for me because I'm the same way on the mound. If I get a big punchout, I'm yelling, and he's the same way as a hitter, and it's something that I respect a lot about him. Love having him as a teammate, love watching the way he plays."
Bazzana's home run was a two-run shot over the center field fence that also scored José Ramírez to give the Guardians a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Twins starting pitcher Connor Prielipp.
Bazzana was visibly excited after he hit the 1-1 pitch and ran toward first base as the ball traveled 427 feet.
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“I don't remember exactly, but I was basically telling the ball to go,” Bazzana said. “I did that on the same one that got caught on the [warning] track in game two against the [Tampa Bay] Rays [on April 29]. So, I was just hoping. Today, there was no wind so it carried out, but I got it good. I just hustled and tried to yell it out.”
Bazzana said after the game he received the ball.
“That was really cool to have,” Bazzana said. “Got to put it somewhere safe.”
Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2026, in Cleveland.
Bazzana showed his speed on the bases in the eighth inning when he beat out a potential double-play ball, stole second and third base and scored on an infield single by Austin Hedges off the back of Twins reliever Anthony Banda.
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“I try to be the best I can at every part of the game, and when there's good opportunities to run I'm going to take them,” Bazzana said. “Just trying to be athletic and the healthiest out there everyday version of myself and I can take advantage of good times to run like that.”
Bazzana smiled and said “that’s cool” when he was told about Messick’s comments about him.
Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana hits his first MLB home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2026, in Cleveland.
“I love the game and I care,” Bazzana said. “I play with passion. I want to play with fire. It's just how I've kind of always been and I love that he would describe me that way. So, yeah, when I'm in a controlled aggression [mode], that's like at my best and I showed a little bit of that tonight.”
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Bazzana wore the celebratory knights helmet in the Guardians dugout after his home run, but appeared to be wearing it backward or upside down.
“It was fun,” Bazzana said. “I don't know if I put it on the right way. I couldn't tell. I hadn't done it before, but it was cool. I was excited for that. Just probably looked silly, but that's the point.
“… If I'm swinging at good pitches and squaring the ball up, over time, good things are going to happen. I felt like I was in control of my [at-]bats early on, so everything's kind of felt the same. I finally got a ball kind of in the air where I wanted it today, but I'm in a good place offensively, and just sometimes balls go at guys and you just got to stick with it, stay healthy and keep finding my ball flight and I'll be good.”
Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana (37) celebrates with Jose Ramirez after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2026, in Cleveland.
According to the Guardians, Bazzana is the 10th Australian-born MLB player to hit a home run (the first with Cleveland) and the second player in MLB history to have a home run, at least seven walks and at least six stolen bases in his first nine career games, joining Quilvio Veras in 1995 with the Florida Marlins.
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Guardians manager Stephen Vogt lauded Bazzana for having "quality at-bats" and being "a good baseball player."
"All of our young guys are up here contributing and pushing the pace of the game, doing a phenomenal job," Vogt said. "Really fun night for Travis to get his first homer [in the first inning], and then obviously the hard 90, beat out the fielder's choice and to steal two bags, got us an extra run [in the eighth inning].
"... He's been pushing the pace since he's gotten here. He looks comfortable. Looks like he belongs and he crushed that ball tonight."
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2026, in Cleveland.
Around the Guardians dugout
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Messick (4-1) pitched 5⅔ innings to get the win and lower his ERA to 2.30, the fifth-best in the American League. He struck out seven and allowed one earned run, seven hits and a walk.
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Ramirez hit two singles, including an RBI single in the seventh that scored Steven Kwan. That was Ramirez's 1,700th career hit. He is the 15th current player to reach that milestone.
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Colin Holderman and Tim Herrin combined for 1⅔ scoreless innings before Cade Smith worked the ninth and recorded his 11th save of the season, the most in the AL and tied for most in MLB with San Diego's Mason Miller and St. Louis' Riley O'Brien. Smith allowed a run.
Guardians promote Franco Aleman from AAA Columbus
Before Friday's game, the Guardians promoted reliever Franco Aleman and designated reliever Connor Brogdon for assignment.
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"This [past] road trip [against the Athletcis and Royals], we used the bullpen a lot," Vogt said. "So, we were really thin, needing to make a move, and unfortunately Connor was the move. So, we had to DFA him. Really thankful for Connor. Helped us win a lot of games this first month-plus of the season and just the way it goes sometimes.
"We're really excited about Franco, the way he's been throwing in AAA [Columbus]. It's been a long time coming to get Franco Aleman here and today's the day. So, we're really excited about that."
Aleman said he received the call about his promotion from Clippers manager Andy Tracy.
"The first person I called was my wife [Daniela], of course, and she started crying immediately," Aleman said. "Very happy for me. There's a lot of adversity I've gone through to get here and she's been through it with me 10-plus years. I'm glad to finally see the sweet side of it.
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"... It's a childhood dream come true. I feel like 8-year-old me. Today, I put a picture when I was 8 or 9 in Cuba as my screensaver [on my phone] just to remind myself to just be a kid out there and have fun."
Aleman struck out 18 and allowed just one unearned run on three hits and four walks in 12 innings over 13 appearances in Columbus.
"As soon as you walk out of the clubhouse and you see the stadium, it's very impressive," Aleman said. "Very, very impressive."
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal .
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Travis Bazzana flashes power, athleticism as impact Guardians rookie
