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Vols have four selected on first day of MLB draft; Aussie from Oregon State is top pick

AP photo by LM Otero / Christian Moore is interviewed after being selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 MLB amateur draft, which got underway with the first 74 picks Sunday night at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. Moore, a junior second baseman for Tennessee this past season who helped the Vols win the College World Series last month, spent part of his prep baseball career at Chattanooga's Baylor School.
AP photo by LM Otero / Christian Moore is interviewed after being selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 MLB amateur draft, which got underway with the first 74 picks Sunday night at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. Moore, a junior second baseman for Tennessee this past season who helped the Vols win the College World Series last month, spent part of his prep baseball career at Chattanooga's Baylor School. AP photo by LM Otero / Christian Moore is interviewed after being selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 MLB amateur draft, which got underway with the first 74 picks Sunday night at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. Moore, a junior second baseman for Tennessee this past season who helped the Vols win the College World Series last month, spent part of his prep baseball career at Chattanooga's Baylor School.

By RONALD BLUM / The Associated Press 6 min read

FORT WORTH, Texas — Travis Bazzana feels like he represents an entire country, not just a college.

Bazzana, the Oregon State second baseman from Australia, was taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the No. 1 pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft for 2024 on Sunday night, when three players from Wake Forest were selected in the top 10.

A former cricket, rugby and soccer player who came to the United States to play college baseball for the Beavers, the 21-year-old Bazzana hit .407 with 28 home runs and 66 RBIs this past season. He became the first Australian and first second baseman taken No. 1.

“An opportunity to make an impact on a lot of baseball players and a lot of people back home in Australia, and hopefully change the narrative for baseball there,” said Bazzana who hit .360 over three seasons at Oregon State while totaling 45 homers, 165 RBIs, 180 walks and 66 steals.

Cleveland had the top pick for the first time since the draft began in 1965. Chris Antonetti, the president of baseball operations for the Guardians, said the team made its final decision Sunday.