Australian prodigy Travis Bazzana has been tipped to go in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft in what promises to be a life-changing moment.
The 21-year-old Sydney product has starred for Oregon State at the collegiate level since moving to the United States two years ago.
Bazzana has set the Pac-12 competition alight this season for the Beavers and was named player of the year, putting scouts from MLB franchises on notice.
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ESPN have rated Bazzana as the No.2 overall projected pick for Monday's draft, sitting just behind Georgia's Charlie Condon, but there's a genuine chance the Aussie goes first.
Speaking to Nine's Today, Bazzana said he was beginning to realise the enormity of the situation, which will include a bumper pay packet if he goes as high as projected.
"I'm feeling great – it's exciting, it's getting close and I'm starting to fathom that excitement a little more," he said on Wednesday.
"It's a busy time, just sort of figuring out logistics with my agent and doing meetings with different teams, as well as preparing to play the back-end of the Minor League season.
"It's a big thing … any 21-year-old college player becomes eligible for the draft. Basically, we're trying to be the next prospects in MLB and teams scout year-round trying to figure out who the best prospect is.
"Going near the top-half of the first round is a pretty extensive pay cheque and it's going to change my life."
For reference, last year's No.1 overall pick Paul Skenes – who is now dating LSU gymnastics sensation and social media megastar Livvy Dunne – received a cool $13.65 million for his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bazzana's batting average this season has risen to .407 which places him among the upper-echelon of Division 1 college players.
While it's a rarity for an Australian to be such a highly-touted MLB prospect, Bazzana revealed his passion started at a young age and was always infatuated with the sport.
"I was lucky enough to be around it – my dad played a little bit when he was a junior and I have two older brothers who played," he said.
"I just fell in love with it – I had cricket around me, I had soccer and rugby, all the regulars – but I just fell in love with baseball.
"I just stuck with it and it became my passion and my identity."
Bazzana was also quizzed on his ambitions to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where it's expected some of baseball's biggest stars will be in action.
"Yeah 100 per cent," he said.
"In previous times in the Olympics when baseball has been there, MLB players haven't really played in it. Team USA hasn't been the dream team like they have been in basketball, but what I'm hearing is that might change in 2028.
"Hopefully at that time I'm a MLB player and playing at the highest level and I will be able to compete for a medal with team Australia.
"That's kind of far away, but it's something I have always though about."
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