Travis Bazzana is the biggest name in Australian sport that nobody has heard of leading Team Australia Baseball in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Bazzana bombs are flooding social media, appearing on podcasts and has become a baseball talking point across the world.
The former 2024 #1 Draft Pick in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Guardians is putting baseball on the map in Australia.
Uniquely, it was a history making moment for Australian baseball, the first Aussie to be selected first overall in an MLB draft.
Fast forward two years and Bazzana, tipped to be Australia’s greatest ever, joins only a select few to represent their country at the event as a former #1 selection.
There have only been seven players selected first in the MLB to play the WBC tournament.
A piece of history that puts Bazzana alongside names Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.
“Yeah, I came across that post and the people that came before me. Very exciting,” said Bazzana pre-tournament.
“That’s pretty special to be part of, and I hope I can make an impact like those players have.”
Not so shocking at all
It shocked the entire world, a 3-0 victory to open the WBC against Chinese Taipei had Australia making headlines.
For this group of Aussies though, there are no surprises when it comes to performing on the international stage.
Team Australia have played in the Premier12, and were quarterfinalists at the 2023 WBC.
Add into the mix the quality of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) producing and attracting high end talent, Australia can mix it with the best in the world.
“We played in the Premier12 in 2024, and Chinese Taipei were the champions,” said Bazzana after the win.
“They are an incredible baseball team.
“But we had two ex-major leaguers pitch today, and a third guy who is one of the toughest pitchers for any left-hand hitter or hitter to face who pitches in the ABL.
“There’s that and a lot of experience throughout our team and some young players, some experienced, it’s a perfect combination.
“So, when we go against anyone, we are going to have belief and trust in each other that we can go out.
“It’s the same game we play no matter who you’re facing.
“Chinese Taipei is an incredible opponent, but we executed well tonight and won.”
Test against the best
The biggest test for Team Australia is Japan, the best team in the world stacked with talent.
Furthermore, to give readers an idea of the monumental task ahead let’s look at some figures.
Via Australian baseball reporter Eric Balnar, difference in salaries between the two teams shows a stark contrast.
Samurai Japan with annual average salary of $301 million AUD (212 million USD), compared to Australia less than 1.5 million AUD.
However, despite the differences on an off the field for the two teams, it’s about controlling the controllables.
“You’re always looking to improve,” said Australia head coach David Nillson after the 5-1 win over Czechia.
“I think we are just going to keep doing what we do and how we do it and we’ll just keep preparing.
“We’re not going to do anything different. We prepared the best we can.
“So, we’ll just continue doing that and whether it’s Team Japan or Czech, we focus on our preparation, so there’s nothing new over the next 24 to 36 hours.”
Embracing the moment
Exactly what this game against Japan means in an Australian sporting sense is hard to describe.
The Ashes against England, facing New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup, it sits alongside these.
Tonight’s game against Japan is a moment across Australian sport that can ignite a generation of baseball fandom.
An underdog story, against the best team in the world at the Tokyo Dome. It doesn’t get any bigger.
However, for Team Australia it’s about embracing the moment, testing themselves against the best.
“The plan tomorrow has nothing to do about Team Japan,” continued Nillson.
“The plan tomorrow is all about us and just making sure our bodies are right, and whatever schoolwork or whatever we need to work on tomorrow, we’ll do that.
“Once the workout is over, we’ll watch the games and wake up the next day and then we’ll start focusing on Team Japan, obviously the best team in the world, and we have a lot of information about them.
“Our players are really excited to go up against them and see where we’re at.”
Australia v Japan will be live on ESPN 9PM AEDT, March 8.
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