.6 years ago, throughout a Veggie Cover cricket match in Sydney's interior west, a skinny teen from the northerly beach fronts was battle 6s onto capital at Drummoyne Oval.Representing Northern Area in the state's premier under-16 competition, the left-hander slugged 34 (31) during the course of the qualifying ultimate versus Sydney Cricket Club to help chase after the 208-run target along with a handful of balls to spare.That growing cricketer was Travis Bazzana, that this week came to be the first Australian to become decided on in the position round of the Big league Baseball Draft.On Monday early morning, the Oregon Condition 2nd baseman was grabbed by the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 1 total pick along with a potential finalizing bonus of approximately AU$ 15.5 million, although the exact number is yet to be confirmed.But prior to embarking on a profitable baseball job, Bazzana was a gifted cricket prodigy putting together hundreds at university, club and also depictive level.Cricket trainer Josh Miller, who has actually mentored the Northern Area Environment-friendly Defense edge for almost a many years, still keeps in mind Bazzana's Drummoyne strike." It was actually an astounding innings," Miller told Fox Cricket recently." You do not truly view things like that in Green Guard cricket." Check out every sphere of the England v West Indies Test collection LIVE & unique to Fox Cricket, on call on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your free of cost test today > Aussie creates MLB past history, general no. 1!|00:26 Miller, the Supervisor of Cricket at Barker College as well as the Junior Path Manager at Northern District, coached Bazzana for pair of seasons between 2016 and also 2018 before the sporting professional committed to baseball." He was actually a really, good batter and an extremely skilled ball-striker," Miller continued." Definitely not a slogger in any way, however he took the video game on. He might rack up all around the ground." The important things that stuck out with him was perhaps his athleticism. He definitely had a cannon toss, as individuals that participate in baseball carry out, yet simply the means he transferred the field, you recognized he was actually an unique athlete." Bazzana, that also played baseball, rugby as well as soccer during his young people, led Turramurra Senior high school in the direction of its first Alan Davidson Guard label before playing third-grade cricket one of adults at Roseville Area CC, ending up being the club's youngest centurion.He was actually selected for the Green Shield edge in 2016, playing together with future Sydney Rumbling player Toby Gray as well as Australian under-19 agent Corey Miller.But his real calling was actually baseball-- before cricket suits, Bazzana will heat up by practising his baseball swings." He was actually a convenient cricketer, it's often gone over whether he might possess been a cricketer or not," Bazzana's father Gary informed CODE Athletics." However he was actually consistently extra enthusiastic about baseball." Oregon Condition's Travis Bazzana. Picture by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire by means of Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesApart coming from his uncooked capability and also unnatural athleticism, Bazzana's competitiveness and also professionalism and trust were promptly evident to Miller. He might not have actually been actually the best skilled cricketer in the Northern Area squad, but he functioned tougher than some of his teammates." Travis' commitment was unrivaled. I've not seen a younger athlete as steered," Miller pointed out." The effort, the drive, that was all extremely obvious to observe." He succeeded when the game was difficult as well as when he possessed an actually clear goal to become going for. That consistently keeps you in decent place as a sportsmen, if you possess that affordable streak when you're struggling." Although handling both summer sporting activities was actually straining for the university student, along with cricket and also baseball consuming his whole entire weekend, Bazzana took advantage of the skill-sets he accomplished in both sporting activities. Last year, he told MLB Pipe that cricket's importance on consistent connect with assisted establish his bat-to-ball skills.Since transferring to the USA in 2021, Bazzana has actually acquired approval for his layer field, recognizing which pitches to sway at or leave alone. His hand-eye control as well as decision-making at home plate can, a minimum of partially, be credited to his opportunity as a cricketer." The method he struck the sphere as well as the swing of the baseball bat was best," Miller detailed." It was fairly apparent how well his baseball side transmitted all over." Oregon Condition's Travis Bazzana.Source: Information Corporation AustraliaIn a moving doors moment, Bazzana decided on to prioritise baseball in 2018, making his debut for the Sydney Blue Sox later that year as well as embodying Australia at the 2019 Under-18 Globe Cup.Needless to say, it ended up the right phone call, yet baseball's increase was actually cricket's reduction." His functionality entering into Veggie Shield shrieked that he was actually going to be a superior cricketer," Miller carried on." Even if of his commitment and just how much time and effort and also technique he had to what he was performing, I presume he can have discovered a method to be a good cricketer." He really did not have the most ideal year in Green Guard ... my guess is actually baseball was actually the right alternative." Those guys, they have a tendency to discover a way to be successful in whatever they perform, simply through that self-control and style." However, speaking to The Book of Joe podcast previously this year, Bazzana confessed he from time to time overlooks the sensation of leather-made on willow." A ton of my best buddies were actually playing cricket and I was enjoying with all of them as well as enjoying it carefully, but I was actually consistently placing in the added help baseball," Bazzana said." I will be reaching baseballs prior to I visited go play my cricket activity." I had a great time playing cricket and also carried out miss out on the sport after I fully devoted to baseball at sixteen.".