.6 years back, during the course of an Environment-friendly Guard cricket suit in Sydney's inner west, a slim teenager coming from the northern coastlines was battle sixes onto capital at Drummoyne Oval.Representing Northern Area in the condition's premier under-16 competition, the left-hander slugged 34 (31) during the certifying last against Sydney Cricket Nightclub to assist chase the 208-run intended along with a handful of rounds to spare.That growing cricketer was Travis Bazzana, who this week came to be the 1st Australian to become selected in the opening around of the Major League Baseball Draft.On Monday morning, the Oregon State second baseman was grabbed by the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 1 general selection along with a possible finalizing reward of approximately AU$ 15.5 million, although the specific figure is yet to be confirmed.But before starting a highly profitable baseball occupation, Bazzana was a proficient cricket natural born player assembling hundreds at school, nightclub and also depictive level.Cricket instructor Josh Miller, that has actually mentored the Northern District Veggie Defense side for virtually a many years, still always remembers Bazzana's Drummoyne assault." It was actually an astounding innings," Miller said to Fox Cricket recently." You don't actually find stuff like that in Green Guard cricket." See every sphere of the England v West Indies Examination set LIVE & special to Fox Cricket, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your complimentary trial today > Aussie makes MLB record, total no. 1!|00:26 Miller, the Director of Cricket at Barker University and the Junior Process Supervisor at Northern District, coached Bazzana for pair of seasons between 2016 and also 2018 before the sporting professional committed to baseball." He was actually an extremely, good concoction and a really accomplished ball-striker," Miller carried on." Certainly certainly not a slogger at all, but he took the activity on. He could possibly score around the ground." Things that attracted attention along with him was possibly his athleticism. He certainly possessed a cannon toss, as men that participate in baseball do, yet just the way he transferred the area, you understood he was an unique sportsmen." Bazzana, that additionally played basketball, rugby and also volleyball during the course of his young people, led Turramurra Secondary school towards its first Alan Davidson Cover label just before playing third-grade cricket among adults at Roseville District CC, coming to be the club's youngest centurion.He was actually chosen for the Green Shield edge in 2016, playing together with potential Sydney Thunder player Toby Gray and Australian under-19 representative Corey Miller.But his true calling was actually baseball-- prior to cricket matches, Bazzana would heat up by practicing his baseball swings." He was actually a convenient cricketer, it is actually often explained whether he could possibly have been actually a cricketer or otherwise," Bazzana's father brown Gary said to CODE Sports." However he was regularly extra enthusiastic regarding baseball." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana. Photo through Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesApart from his uncooked skill and abnormal athleticism, Bazzana's competition and reliability were actually instantly obvious to Miller. He might certainly not have been the best proficient cricketer in the Northern District squad, yet he worked more difficult than any of his colleagues." Travis' dedication was incomparable. I have actually not viewed a young athlete as steered," Miller stated." The hard work, the disk, that was actually all extremely obvious to find." He excelled when the activity was difficult and when he possessed a truly very clear objective to be pursuing. That consistently supports you in good place as a professional athlete, if you possess that affordable streak when you are actually struggling." Although juggling the two summertime sports was actually exhausting for the university student, along with cricket as well as baseball eating his entire weekend break, Bazzana benefited from the abilities he attained in both sporting activities. In 2014, he said to MLB Pipe that cricket's importance on steady get in touch with assisted create his bat-to-ball skills.Since transferring to the USA in 2021, Bazzana has obtained praise for his layer discipline, understanding which pitches to turn at or even leave alone. His hand-eye coordination and decision-making at home plate can, at least to some extent, be attributed to his time as a cricketer." The way he hit the ball as well as the swing of the bat was actually elite," Miller discussed." It was actually pretty obvious exactly how effectively his baseball edge transmitted across." Oregon State's Travis Bazzana.Source: Information Corp AustraliaIn a sliding doors second, Bazzana selected to prioritise baseball in 2018, making his launching for the Sydney Blue Sox later on that year as well as standing for Australia at the 2019 Under-18 World Cup.Needless to mention, it ended up the ideal phone call, yet baseball's increase was actually cricket's reduction." His efficiency entering into Green Guard shouted that he was actually mosting likely to be actually an excellent cricketer," Miller carried on." Just because of his dedication and also just how much effort and time and technique he must what he was performing, I presume he could possess discovered a way to become a respectable cricketer." He really did not have the most effective year in Environment-friendly Guard ... my assumption is baseball was the right option." Those guys, they usually tend to locate a technique to do well in whatever they do, merely with that discipline and also style." Having said that, contacting Guide of Joe podcast previously this year, Bazzana admitted he occasionally misses the sensation of leather on willow." A considerable amount of my friends were actually playing cricket and also I was actually having fun with them and also appreciating it completely, however I was actually consistently investing the additional benefit baseball," Bazzana stated." I would certainly be striking baseballs just before I went to go play my cricket game." I possessed a great time playing cricket and also performed miss out on the sport after I fully dedicated to baseball at sixteen.".