Nearly 8,000 miles away from home Travis Bazzana has made a name for himself in the US college baseball world. As an Australian player who sought out college baseball in the US, he has become the
face of the Oregon State University baseball team and is now doing the same in the Cape Cod Summer League.
Bazzana is halfway through a season at the Cape Cod League, showing his skills with the Falmouth Commodores (24-18-2).
As a high schooler from Australia playing in a tournament in Arizona, Bazzana was highly sought after by US coaches, including an Oregon State coach.
“I was coming over here not really knowing where I would fit in and how good I would be in comparison to my competition because I had only had a couple of chances to play against American kids my age,” Bazzana said.
In 2014, Bazzana played for the Australian team in the 13U world series in Maryland. That was his first time playing in the US. Following that, the Arizona tournament exposed him to further opportunities in US baseball as a high schooler.
“I’m lucky there was an Oregon State coach there who saw me play and thought I was good enough to play at Oregon State and recruited me,” Bazzana said. “(OSU had) the best coaching staff, winning culture and community… I’m really happy with my decision; it was perfect for me.”
After two years at OSU, Bazzana is setting his eyes on a national championship with OSU ahead of the 2024 baseball season.
“Our team is going to be an unbelievable squad this year, and we have the potential to go do that,” Bazzana said.
During his summer in Cape Cod, Bazzana has grown in the game’s physical and mental aspects, including playing different positions throughout the infield and outfield.
“Playing every day has been a new test to the body and mind,” Bazzana said on the differences between college baseball and the Cape Cod League.
Bazzana’s impact on the team has not gone unnoticed by the Commodores coaching staff.
“He’s been an awesome young man to be around. It’s all the intangibles that he brings to the table that really set him apart,” said Jeff Trundy, head coach of the Falmouth Commodores, “He’s cheering on his teammates at the same time, trying to get every bit of information he can to make himself better during a game.”
Trundy has seen many players come through the Cape Cod League in his 25 years as head coach of the Commodores, among them former Oregon State and current MLB All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman and former Oregon State catcher Andrew Susac and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
“(Bazzana) wants to play professionally, and he’s obviously going to get that opportunity,” said Trundy. “I can’t imagine that he’s not going to have a long and successful career.”
Bazzana is currently projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and would be the second-highest-drafted Oregon State baseball player in program history. While the draft is months away, in the meantime, Bazzana has felt that his teammates have supported him since his arrival at Falmouth.
“The team’s been picking it up. When I first got here, it was struggling, but we’ve been getting better,” Bazzana said. “I feel like my mental skills and life skills are growing the most, more than my physical skills right now.”
Bazzana is not only cheering on his teammates, but he’s building connections with them as well.
“There are a lot of great people and great baseball players out here. I feel like I’ve built a lot of relationships and seen some of the best baseball I’ve played in so far at this point in my life,” Bazzana said.
On July 8, Bazzana hit for the cycle going 5-5 against the Orleans Firebirds. He hit a triple in the top of the ninth inning to complete the cycle, hitting for the first-ever cycle in the stat-tracking era for the Commodores. Bazzana currently leads the Commodores with three home runs, 31 RBIs, and in batting average with a team-high .375 batting average.
On Aug 5, Bazzana won the 2023 Cape Cod Baseball League Pat Sorenti MVP award and was named the 2023 Cape Cod Baseball League batting champ.
“You just sit up and take notice—‘this guy’s special’… He’s always maximizing each and every opportunity,” said Trundy. “He does his best to win every single pitch… It’s hard to do, and he’s a guy who takes that saying and really lives with it.”
