The Australian team bus was a few steps in front of the glass doors at the main entrance to Fuchu City Stadium, waiting to carry the squad back to its hotel after a practice game against a local team. The Australians were on a tight schedule and looking to make a quick getaway so the players could swap dirty uniforms for clean suits before an appointment at the Australian Embassy.
Most of the players made it to the bus in a few steps. It was not, however, that simple for infielder Travis Bazzana, who was met by a throng of fans eager to get close to the No. 1 pick in this year’s MLB draft. The 22-year-old happily obliged as long as he could, standing in the middle of a large pack, calmly alternating between scribbling his name on various items and posing for photos.
Bazzana will make his debut for the senior national team during this year’s Premier12, but he is already the center of attention after becoming the first Australian to be taken with the No. 1 pick — or even selected in the first round — in the MLB draft when the Cleveland Guardians chose him on July 14.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.