The top stat has to be his OPS (1.512), which is absolutely insane.
As it compares to other Beaver players that went to Omaha:
2005: Jacoby Ellsbury (1.105)
2006: Cole Gillespie (1.178)
2007: Jordan Lennerton (.961)
2013: Michael Conforto (.973)
2017: Nick Madrigal (.981)
2018: Adley Rutschman (1.133)
For those unfamiliar with OPS: adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage to get one number that unites the two. It's meant to combine how well a hitter can reach base, with how well he can hit for average and for power.
For context, Babe Ruth is first in the MLB with a career 1.164, Ted Williams is second with a 1.116
There are thousands of these stories that make up what college athletics is, or at least used to be, all about. They are the stories I choose to focus on
As Oregonians, we have to be so proud of him and of this program in general. Great story about a terrific, hard working young man who is a credit now to two nations.
John, great story as usual. As a lifelong Cleveland professional baseball fan I am rooting for Travis to finish strong and join the Guardians as the #1 overall pick. Bazzana would add another Beaver to the Cleveland line up along with their reliable, productive leadoff hitter Stephen Kwan. In Kwan's 3rd season in the majors he's batting .361, leading the majors and on track to get his 3rd staight gold glove in left field. Travis is a great fit for the Guardians as he seems like the second base alternative to Jose Ramirez who is leading the majors in RBIs. Love to see Travis on the Guards and be OSU's 2nd overall #1 pick after Adley who is turning out to be a perennial all-star for the Orioles.
Go Beavs and make it to Omaha. Go Travis and earn that #1 pick. Go Guards!
Travis is well on his way to earning the title of “generational player”. I’m eager to see how he adapts to MLB. My hunch is he will be a rookie of the year possibility, and future MLB all star. Business at hand awaits this young man as he wills the Beavers to his dream finish!!
Seems like Bazzana, who I have enjoyed since his Freshman year, his talent was so obvious, arrived in Corvallis at just the right time. He may very well help save the Oregon State baseball program (strong since the 1970s under HC Jack Riley when I was at OSU) and all of Oregon State sports by keeping OSU relevant
Nick was a very nice college player who has been snake-bit with injury in the majors. He hit for average in college but not power. He had speed but also then risks leg injuries like torn hamstrings. My Twins have a similar player who is speed-dependent, Byron Buxton, who was a 1st rounder and showed All-Star promise at the plate and in the field. But he can't keep his legs, or his head, healthy. He is in CF and runs into the wall at full speed. You admire the effort but not the risk. Hopefully, Travis can avoid tearing up his legs.
Hi, John. That was a great read on Travis. Great ones do figure it out. I'm now getting closer to 85 and I often hear that you just can't make it in our day and age we live in, but my answer to that and it will never change. Find a need and fill it, you'll be successful at what ever you decide to do.
Great story about Travis! Hard work and perseverance reigns supreme. I’m looking forward to watching him and the rest of the team at the supers. This Duck fan will be rooting for the Beav’s and Ducks in their coming games!
John, though I’ve enjoyed your sports reporting for years even while not always agreeing with you, I’m truly impressed by your love of people in sports and outside of sports. Love this “Bald Faced Truth”🙏🏻
Beaver baseball fans are the luckiest around. To have players come through like Bazzana, Rutschman, Madrigal, Ellsbury, Kwan and the rest is a dream come true!
Please forward this excellent article to the baseball selection committee and SEC HQ in Birmingham. 3 worthy Pac-12 teams were stiffed in favor of 1 game over .500 Florida. When the committee rates so many of a conference's teams above everyone else of course teams in that conference will have an excellent strength of schedule.
Super Regional Sites: Shots of Rebel Yell Bourbon all around! Kentucky - Beavers; Texas - Ducks; Tennessee, Florida; Virginia; North Carolina; Georgia; and South Carolina. What happened to Mississippi?
BTW, looking at the 2024-25 college football playoff sites, five of the 7 seven PO bowl game sites are located in Dixie with Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosting the Peach Bowl and the champ game.
B1G commish Tony Petitti better be lobbying to add SoFi Stadium, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Detroit as PO sites beginning in 2026. And for the ACC and SEC to play nine conference games and for Notre Dame to play 13 regular season games.
Had the opportunity to meet Mr. Bazzana and Travis' brother this past weekend at the Regionals - just the friendliest people you could ever imagine and so happy to talk about their family and Travis and their experiences here to Oregon. It's great to know that when the draft happens, they will be there with Travis and his teammates. Thanks for the story, John!
The top stat has to be his OPS (1.512), which is absolutely insane.
As it compares to other Beaver players that went to Omaha:
2005: Jacoby Ellsbury (1.105)
2006: Cole Gillespie (1.178)
2007: Jordan Lennerton (.961)
2013: Michael Conforto (.973)
2017: Nick Madrigal (.981)
2018: Adley Rutschman (1.133)
For those unfamiliar with OPS: adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage to get one number that unites the two. It's meant to combine how well a hitter can reach base, with how well he can hit for average and for power.
For context, Babe Ruth is first in the MLB with a career 1.164, Ted Williams is second with a 1.116
amazing
If I understand the stat correctly, it means that for every time he goes to the plate, he reaches 1/2 to second base on average. Amazing.
This awesome detail!
Thanks JHC!!!!
There are thousands of these stories that make up what college athletics is, or at least used to be, all about. They are the stories I choose to focus on
Great ones do indeed figure it out
GreatStuff, John 👊🏼
Lots of great stories out there. Bazzana is one of them.
As Oregonians, we have to be so proud of him and of this program in general. Great story about a terrific, hard working young man who is a credit now to two nations.
John, great story as usual. As a lifelong Cleveland professional baseball fan I am rooting for Travis to finish strong and join the Guardians as the #1 overall pick. Bazzana would add another Beaver to the Cleveland line up along with their reliable, productive leadoff hitter Stephen Kwan. In Kwan's 3rd season in the majors he's batting .361, leading the majors and on track to get his 3rd staight gold glove in left field. Travis is a great fit for the Guardians as he seems like the second base alternative to Jose Ramirez who is leading the majors in RBIs. Love to see Travis on the Guards and be OSU's 2nd overall #1 pick after Adley who is turning out to be a perennial all-star for the Orioles.
Go Beavs and make it to Omaha. Go Travis and earn that #1 pick. Go Guards!
Thanks for this.
Travis is well on his way to earning the title of “generational player”. I’m eager to see how he adapts to MLB. My hunch is he will be a rookie of the year possibility, and future MLB all star. Business at hand awaits this young man as he wills the Beavers to his dream finish!!
He's going to be a great pro. He can rake.
Seems like Bazzana, who I have enjoyed since his Freshman year, his talent was so obvious, arrived in Corvallis at just the right time. He may very well help save the Oregon State baseball program (strong since the 1970s under HC Jack Riley when I was at OSU) and all of Oregon State sports by keeping OSU relevant
Big time
Nice story, thx. I’m a Cub fan. Hope he doesn’t fall into the Madrigal Vortex.
Nick was a very nice college player who has been snake-bit with injury in the majors. He hit for average in college but not power. He had speed but also then risks leg injuries like torn hamstrings. My Twins have a similar player who is speed-dependent, Byron Buxton, who was a 1st rounder and showed All-Star promise at the plate and in the field. But he can't keep his legs, or his head, healthy. He is in CF and runs into the wall at full speed. You admire the effort but not the risk. Hopefully, Travis can avoid tearing up his legs.
Ellsbury did have a fine career, so its possible for a Beaver to succeed at the top level.
I agree. Loved Barney. I was thrilled when the Cubs traded for Madrigal, sorry it hasn’t worked out.
Hi, John. That was a great read on Travis. Great ones do figure it out. I'm now getting closer to 85 and I often hear that you just can't make it in our day and age we live in, but my answer to that and it will never change. Find a need and fill it, you'll be successful at what ever you decide to do.
Great story about Travis! Hard work and perseverance reigns supreme. I’m looking forward to watching him and the rest of the team at the supers. This Duck fan will be rooting for the Beav’s and Ducks in their coming games!
John, though I’ve enjoyed your sports reporting for years even while not always agreeing with you, I’m truly impressed by your love of people in sports and outside of sports. Love this “Bald Faced Truth”🙏🏻
Thanks Rich. Appreciate that you are here for it.
Always enjoy your writing, John, and I really enjoyed your conversation with Gavin Turley on the BFT.
The hour that I get to listen, is a highlight of my day.
Go Beavs!
Turley was outstanding. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bald-faced-truth-with-john-canzano/id947734998?i=1000657991145
Love that stuff, John. The quotes from his Dad make it great. Clearly, this OSU group is Special
Thanks Bob. Appreciate that you are here.
"Great ones figure it out."
What a well-placed quote for this anniversary of D-Day. Now those boys figured it out, indeed. Bless them all!
Thank you for this Scott.
Beaver baseball fans are the luckiest around. To have players come through like Bazzana, Rutschman, Madrigal, Ellsbury, Kwan and the rest is a dream come true!
Great culture.
Let’s hope the Beavers 🦫 have it figured out and win two games !!!
Wonderful story. Good On Ya Mate!
Please forward this excellent article to the baseball selection committee and SEC HQ in Birmingham. 3 worthy Pac-12 teams were stiffed in favor of 1 game over .500 Florida. When the committee rates so many of a conference's teams above everyone else of course teams in that conference will have an excellent strength of schedule.
Super Regional Sites: Shots of Rebel Yell Bourbon all around! Kentucky - Beavers; Texas - Ducks; Tennessee, Florida; Virginia; North Carolina; Georgia; and South Carolina. What happened to Mississippi?
BTW, looking at the 2024-25 college football playoff sites, five of the 7 seven PO bowl game sites are located in Dixie with Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosting the Peach Bowl and the champ game.
B1G commish Tony Petitti better be lobbying to add SoFi Stadium, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Detroit as PO sites beginning in 2026. And for the ACC and SEC to play nine conference games and for Notre Dame to play 13 regular season games.
Best of luck to the Beavers.
U of P fielded a good team this year. Sad to see them get overlook and teams with .500 getting in the regionals.
Had the opportunity to meet Mr. Bazzana and Travis' brother this past weekend at the Regionals - just the friendliest people you could ever imagine and so happy to talk about their family and Travis and their experiences here to Oregon. It's great to know that when the draft happens, they will be there with Travis and his teammates. Thanks for the story, John!
Good people.