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Cleveland Promotes Travis Bazzana to Starting Second Base

4/28/2026

Summary

Bazzana Promoted

Cleveland promoted 23-year-old infielder Travis Bazzana to start at second base on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Cleveland promoted Bazzana after he posted a .287/.422/.511 line with two homers, 10 RBIs, eight steals and a .933 OPS in 24 games, optioned Juan Brito and awarded an $8.95 million bonus.
Manager Stephen Antonetti said the promotion shows Bazzana’s readiness long term as Cleveland builds a core with rookie Chase DeLauter and left-handed starter Parker Messick.

Summary

Bazzana Homers

Bazzana hit a home run and two hits as Australia beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the Baseball Classic.
He missed two months of the 2025 season with an oblique strain.
Last year in Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, Bazzana posted a .239 average with nine homers, 39 RBIs and 12 steals.
Gabriel Arias entered the injured list on April 7 with a strained left hamstring, prompting his recall from Columbus.

History

Historical Context

The first World Baseball Classic in March 2006 featured 16 national teams and 39 games, drawing over 737,000 fans and showing how international exposure can launch careers. That precedent echoes Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Antonetti’s 2026 promotion of 23-year-old infielder Travis Bazzana, who earned the call after strong minor-league stats, reflecting MLB’s growing reliance on global-tournament visibility.

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Bazzana Promoted

Cleveland promoted 23-year-old infielder Travis Bazzana to start at second base on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Cleveland promoted Bazzana after he posted a .287/.422/.511 line with two homers, 10 RBIs, eight steals and a .933 OPS in 24 games, optioned Juan Brito and awarded an $8.95 million bonus.
Manager Stephen Antonetti said the promotion shows Bazzana’s readiness long term as Cleveland builds a core with rookie Chase DeLauter and left-handed starter Parker Messick.

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