.6 years ago, throughout an Environment-friendly Shield cricket match in Sydney's internal west, a skinny teenager coming from the northern seashores was battle 6s onto the hill at Drummoyne Oval.Representing Northern Area in the state's premier under-16 competitors, the left-hander clobbered 34 (31) during the course of the qualifying last versus Sydney Cricket Club to assist go after the 208-run intended with a couple of balls to spare.That budding cricketer was actually Travis Bazzana, who recently ended up being the first Australian to be chosen in the position around of the Major League Baseball Draft.On Monday morning, the Oregon Condition second baseman was actually grabbed by the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 1 general choice along with a potential signing perk of around AU$ 15.5 thousand, although the exact figure is actually yet to be confirmed.But before starting a financially rewarding baseball occupation, Bazzana was actually a proficient cricket natural born player collecting hundreds at school, nightclub and also depictive level.Cricket train Josh Miller, that has mentored the Northern District Eco-friendly Cover edge for nearly a decade, still always remembers Bazzana's Drummoyne strike." It was actually an astonishing innings," Miller said to Fox Cricket recently." You don't really see things like that in Eco-friendly Defense cricket." Check out every ball of the England v West Indies Examination collection LIVE & exclusive to Fox Cricket, on call on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your free trial today > Aussie makes MLB record, general no. 1!|00:26 Miller, the Director of Cricket at Barker University and the Junior Pathway Supervisor at Northern Area, coached Bazzana for two seasons in between 2016 and 2018 prior to the showing off phenom devoted to baseball." He was actually an extremely, excellent concoction and also an extremely gifted ball-striker," Miller proceeded." Definitely certainly not a slogger whatsoever, yet he took the video game on. He can rack up throughout the ground." The important things that attracted attention along with him was possibly his athleticism. He undoubtedly possessed a cannon throw, as guys that play baseball carry out, however only the technique he relocated the area, you understood he was actually an exclusive professional athlete." Bazzana, that also played baseball, rugby and volleyball in the course of his youth, led Turramurra Senior high school in the direction of its maiden Alan Davidson Shield label prior to playing third-grade cricket amongst grownups at Roseville District CC, coming to be the club's youngest centurion.He was actually chosen for the Eco-friendly Shield edge in 2016, playing alongside potential Sydney Rumbling player Toby Gray and also Australian under-19 rep Corey Miller.But his correct contacting was baseball-- before cricket suits, Bazzana will warm up through practicing his baseball swings." He was actually a handy cricketer, it's typically discussed whether he could possibly have been actually a cricketer or otherwise," Bazzana's father Gary told CODE Athletics." But he was constantly extra enthusiastic about baseball." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana. Photo through Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire by means of Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesApart from his raw skill and strange athleticism, Bazzana's competitiveness and also professionalism were actually right away apparent to Miller. He may certainly not have actually been actually one of the most gifted cricketer in the Northern District team, yet he operated more difficult than any of his allies." Travis' dedication was actually incomparable. I've not seen a younger sportsman as driven," Miller said." The effort, the disk, that was all really noticeable to find." He succeeded when the video game was tough as well as when he had an actually very clear objective to become trying for. That constantly supports you in pretty good place as a professional athlete, if you possess that reasonable streak when you are actually under the gun." Although juggling both summer season sports was straining for the college trainee, along with cricket and also baseball eating his whole weekend, Bazzana gained from the capabilities he attained in both sporting activities. In 2015, he told MLB Pipeline that cricket's emphasis on consistent get in touch with helped create his bat-to-ball skills.Since relocating to the USA in 2021, Bazzana has received approval for his plate field, recognizing which tosses to turn at or even lay off. His hand-eye control and also decision-making at the plate can, a minimum of mostly, be actually attributed to his opportunity as a cricketer." The means he struck the ball and also the swing of the bat was elite," Miller clarified." It was actually quite noticeable just how well his baseball edge moved around." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana.Source: Updates Corporation AustraliaIn a sliding doors instant, Bazzana decided on to prioritise baseball in 2018, making his launching for the Sydney Blue Sox later on that year and representing Australia at the 2019 Under-18 Globe Cup.Needless to state, it became the best telephone call, yet baseball's gain was actually cricket's loss." His performance entering into Environment-friendly Shield howled that he was actually visiting be actually an exceptional cricketer," Miller carried on." Just because of his commitment and just how much time and effort as well as willpower he must what he was performing, I presume he could have located a technique to become a pretty good cricketer." He didn't have the most effective year in Environment-friendly Guard ... my hunch is actually baseball was the right option." Those guys, they have a tendency to find a means to do well in whatever they do, simply through that self-control and discipline." Nevertheless, speaking to Guide of Joe podcast earlier this year, Bazzana admitted he periodically overlooks the feeling of leather-made on willow." A great deal of my friends were actually participating in cricket as well as I was enjoying with them and enjoying it extensively, yet I was consistently putting in the added help baseball," Bazzana claimed." I would certainly be attacking baseballs just before I headed to go play my cricket video game." I had a good time participating in cricket and also did miss out on the sporting activity after I totally dedicated to baseball at sixteen.".