.Six years ago, in the course of a Green Guard cricket match in Sydney's interior west, a skinny teenager from the northerly beaches was battle 6s onto the hill at Drummoyne Oval.Representing Northern Area in the condition's premier under-16 competitors, the left-hander belted 34 (31) during the course of the certifying ultimate versus Sydney Cricket Nightclub to assist chase after the 208-run intended along with a handful of balls to spare.That growing cricketer was actually Travis Bazzana, that this week ended up being the very first Australian to be picked in the position around of the Major League Baseball Draft.On Monday early morning, the Oregon State second baseman was purchased due to the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 1 overall selection along with a prospective finalizing reward of up to AU$ 15.5 thousand, although the exact number is actually yet to become confirmed.But prior to plunging into a lucrative baseball job, Bazzana was actually an accomplished cricket prodigy compiling hundreds at college, nightclub and also depictive level.Cricket train Josh Miller, who has mentored the Northern District Eco-friendly Cover side for virtually a years, still don't forgets Bazzana's Drummoyne assault." It was actually an amazing innings," Miller informed Fox Cricket today." You don't really view things like that in Eco-friendly Defense cricket." See every ball of the England v West Indies Exam collection LIVE & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > Aussie makes MLB past, general no. 1!|00:26 Miller, the Director of Cricket at Barker University and also the Junior Path Manager at Northern District, coached Bazzana for two seasons between 2016 as well as 2018 just before the sporting phenom devoted to baseball." He was a really, good batter as well as an extremely gifted ball-striker," Miller carried on." Undoubtedly not a slogger whatsoever, yet he took the game on. He could possibly score around the ground." The important things that stuck out along with him was actually most likely his athleticism. He certainly had a cannon toss, as people that play baseball carry out, however simply the method he transferred the industry, you recognized he was actually an unique athlete." Bazzana, who likewise played baseball, rugby as well as volleyball during the course of his youth, led Turramurra High School towards its own maiden Alan Davidson Guard label just before participating in third-grade cricket among adults at Roseville District CC, ending up being the nightclub's youngest centurion.He was actually chosen for the Green Guard edge in 2016, participating in alongside future Sydney Rumbling gamer Toby Gray and Australian under-19 representative Corey Miller.But his accurate calling was baseball-- before cricket suits, Bazzana will warm up by practising his baseball swings." He was actually a convenient cricketer, it's frequently covered whether he might have been actually a cricketer or otherwise," Bazzana's father Gary told CODE Athletics." But he was regularly even more passionate regarding baseball." Oregon Condition's Travis Bazzana. Picture through Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesApart from his raw skill-set and unnatural athleticism, Bazzana's competitiveness as well as reliability were quickly apparent to Miller. He might certainly not have been actually the best proficient cricketer in the Northern District team, but he functioned more difficult than any one of his teammates." Travis' commitment was actually second to none. I've not seen a young sportsperson as steered," Miller said." The effort, the drive, that was all extremely noticeable to observe." He succeeded when the video game was difficult and also when he had a truly very clear goal to become aiming for. That constantly holds you in pretty good standing as an athlete, if you have that very competitive streak when you're under the gun." Although managing the two summertime sporting activities was actually exhausting for the institution trainee, with cricket and baseball consuming his entire weekend, Bazzana benefited from the skill-sets he accomplished in both sports. In 2015, he informed MLB Pipe that cricket's importance on regular connect with helped establish his bat-to-ball skills.Since relocating to the United States in 2021, Bazzana has obtained approval for his layer specialty, understanding which pitches to sway at or resist. His hand-eye control and decision-making at home plate can, at the very least to some extent, be actually attributed to his time as a cricketer." The way he hit the round and the swing of the bat was actually best," Miller detailed." It was rather noticeable just how properly his baseball side moved all over." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana.Source: Headlines Corp AustraliaIn a moving doors minute, Bazzana selected to prioritise baseball in 2018, creating his debut for the Sydney Blue Sox later that year and also working with Australia at the 2019 Under-18 World Cup.Needless to say, it ended up the ideal phone call, however baseball's gain was actually cricket's loss." His performance entering Green Shield yelled that he was heading to be an impressive cricketer," Miller continued." Even if of his devotion as well as the amount of time and effort and willpower he must what he was actually performing, I believe he might possess located a technique to become a respectable cricketer." He didn't possess the best year in Eco-friendly Shield ... my guess is baseball was the right choice." Those guys, they often tend to discover a means to succeed in whatever they do, simply by means of that discipline and self-control." However, speaking to The Book of Joe podcast earlier this year, Bazzana confessed he sometimes misses out on the sensation of natural leather on willow." A bunch of my best friends were actually participating in cricket and also I was having fun with them as well as enjoying it extensively, but I was regularly investing the added work with baseball," Bazzana mentioned." I 'd be attacking baseballs prior to I visited go play my cricket game." I possessed a great time participating in cricket and performed skip the sporting activity after I totally dedicated to baseball at sixteen.".