Travis Bazzana’s name still sits right where the Cleveland Guardians want it: at second base, as the long-term answer the organization has been searching for. But after an eye-catching May and an All-Star Game appearance last month, the rookie’s bat has cooled enough to raise a real question about his power.
Bazzana, the former No. 1 draft pick, is hitting .241/.338/.386 with nine home runs, 17 stolen bases and a 107 wRC+ through 86 games and 370 plate appearances. That line is still above league average, but it hasn’t looked nearly as dangerous in recent weeks as it did when he posted a 151 wRC+ in May.
The biggest issue has been the extra-base damage, or lack of it. Since the start of August, Bazzana has a .292 slugging percentage.
Go back to the start of July and that number is .339. Stretch it to the start of June and it’s .352.
None of that matches the kind of production the Guardians and their fans were hoping to see after he tore through May.
Over his last 17 games and 70 plate appearances, he has produced just one extra-base hit, a double. From July 21 to August 9, Sunday, that run has dragged his slugging percentage down to a rough .237.
The walks have kept him afloat in manager Stephen Vogt’s lineup, and that matters. Bazzana has continued to reach base, but at some point the bat has to do more than that. He needs to start driving the ball again, especially if the Guardians want more than steady contact from the keystone spot.
None of this changes the bigger picture. Bazzana is still a highly talented hitter and one of the hardest-working players on the team. He keeps searching for ways to improve, and he has the kind of ability that can turn quickly.
For now, though, it’s fair to say he’s been in a slump. The power has gone quiet, and the outcomes when he swings have followed suit. Still, with his raw talent, Bazzana can turn this around fast.
In Other News...
Stephen Vogts Postgame Message Shows How Urgent This Is For Cleveland
After a loss to the White Sox, Stephen Vogt gathered his club and tried to confront what has been nagging at Cleveland for weeks: the Guardians no longer look like the team they expect to be. The manager's message came with the season at a tense point, because the Guardians have spent much of the summer fighting through injuries to key players such as Jos Ramrez and Angel Martnez while trying to keep themselves afloat in the standings.
Even with the uneven play, the window has not shut. Cleveland remains close enough to a postseason spot to make every stretch of games matter, and the coming schedule gives the club a chance to change the conversation before the pressure grows louder. What happens next will say plenty about whether the Guardians can recover their footing, especially with the bullpens recent struggles adding another layer of concern. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Prospects Are Forcing Their Way Back Into Clevelands Plans
The Guardians farm system may not carry the same top-three shine it once did, but it still belongs in baseballs upper tier, and the recent wave of individual honors is a reminder of why. Welbyn Francisca and Ryan Prager both landed Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Week recognition, giving Cleveland another look at a pipeline that continues to produce legitimate names rather than just organizational depth.
Francisca, ranked 13th in the system, has backed up the attention with strong offensive numbers, while Prager, a 2025 draft pick who is not yet among the top 30 prospects, has already shown enough on the mound to turn heads. For a club that keeps trying to balance present needs with future upside, those are the kinds of developments that can quietly reshape how the front office views its next round of roster decisions. [Read more 🡒]