.6 years ago, during the course of an Environment-friendly Defense cricket match in Sydney's inner west, a slim teenager coming from the northern beach fronts was battle 6s onto capital at Drummoyne Oval.Representing Northern District in the state's premier under-16 competitors, the left-hander clobbered 34 (31) throughout the qualifying final versus Sydney Cricket Nightclub to aid chase the 208-run target with a few balls to spare.That growing cricketer was Travis Bazzana, that this week came to be the initial Australian to be decided on in the position sphere of the Major League Baseball Draft.On Monday early morning, the Oregon State second baseman was actually gotten by the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 1 general choice along with a potential signing benefit of up to AU$ 15.5 million, although the particular figure is actually as yet to be confirmed.But prior to plunging into a highly profitable baseball career, Bazzana was a skilled cricket prodigy putting together hundreds at college, nightclub as well as representative level.Cricket train Josh Miller, who has actually mentored the Northern District Environment-friendly Defense edge for virtually a years, still bears in mind Bazzana's Drummoyne strike." It was an extraordinary innings," Miller told Fox Cricket today." You don't actually find stuff like that in Eco-friendly Shield cricket." Watch every sphere of the England v West Indies Test collection LIVE & unique to Fox Cricket, on call on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your complimentary test today > Aussie creates MLB record, overall no. 1!|00:26 Miller, the Supervisor of Cricket at Barker University and also the Junior Pathway Supervisor at Northern Area, trained Bazzana for 2 periods between 2016 and also 2018 just before the showing off professional devoted to baseball." He was actually an incredibly, great batter and a quite proficient ball-striker," Miller proceeded." Absolutely not a slogger by any means, however he took the activity on. He might score throughout the ground." Things that attracted attention along with him was probably his athleticism. He obviously possessed a cannon throw, as people that play baseball perform, but merely the method he transferred the area, you recognized he was actually a special athlete." Bazzana, that additionally played basketball, rugby as well as football during his youth, led Turramurra High School towards its own maiden Alan Davidson Guard title just before participating in third-grade cricket one of grownups at Roseville District CC, becoming the nightclub's youngest centurion.He was actually picked for the Veggie Cover side in 2016, participating in along with future Sydney Rumbling player Toby Gray as well as Australian under-19 rep Corey Miller.But his real calls was baseball-- prior to cricket matches, Bazzana would heat up through practising his baseball swings." He was a convenient cricketer, it's frequently reviewed whether he could have been actually a cricketer or otherwise," Bazzana's father Gary informed CODE Athletics." However he was actually always even more passionate about baseball." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana. Picture through Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire through Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesApart coming from his uncooked skill-set as well as unnatural athleticism, Bazzana's competitiveness and professionalism and reliability were right away obvious to Miller. He may not have been the most gifted cricketer in the Northern District squad, but he operated harder than some of his allies." Travis' devotion was actually second to none. I've certainly not observed a younger sportsman as driven," Miller claimed." The effort, the drive, that was all quite apparent to observe." He stood out when the activity was difficult as well as when he had a really clear goal to be trying for. That constantly keeps you in decent standing as an athlete, if you have that affordable touch when you are actually under the gun." Although handling both summertime sports was draining for the college trainee, with cricket and also baseball eating his whole weekend break, Bazzana benefited from the skills he obtained in both sports. Last year, he informed MLB Pipe that cricket's emphasis on constant call assisted develop his bat-to-ball skills.Since relocating to the USA in 2021, Bazzana has actually acquired praise for his plate discipline, recognizing which tosses to turn at or even lay off. His hand-eye coordination and decision-making at home plate can, at least partly, be actually attributed to his opportunity as a cricketer." The means he attacked the sphere and also the swing of the baseball bat was elite," Miller revealed." It was actually pretty obvious exactly how effectively his baseball edge transferred around." Oregon Condition's Travis Bazzana.Source: Information Corporation AustraliaIn a gliding doors minute, Bazzana selected to prioritise baseball in 2018, creating his debut for the Sydney Blue Sox later that year and also exemplifying Australia at the 2019 Under-18 Globe Cup.Needless to say, it turned out to be the appropriate call, yet baseball's increase was cricket's reduction." His performance entering Green Defense screamed that he was actually heading to be an outstanding cricketer," Miller continued." Even if of his devotion and also how much time and effort as well as style he had to what he was doing, I think he can possess discovered a way to be a good cricketer." He really did not possess the most effective year in Eco-friendly Cover ... my assumption is baseball was the right option." Those guys, they often tend to discover a way to succeed in whatever they carry out, just via that discipline as well as technique." Having said that, speaking with Guide of Joe podcast earlier this year, Bazzana admitted he occasionally skips the feeling of natural leather on willow." A bunch of my friends were actually participating in cricket and I was playing with them as well as appreciating it thoroughly, however I was actually regularly putting in the added work for baseball," Bazzana pointed out." I will be hitting baseballs prior to I went to go play my cricket game." I had a good time participating in cricket and also did skip the sport after I completely dedicated to baseball at sixteen.".