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by Eric Balnar, Baseball in Australia beat reporter

Travis Bazzana is set to make history on Monday 15 July, when it is expected the Sydney-native will become the first Australian to ever be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

Bazzana deserves every bit of buzz and accolades thrown at him. But he is not the only Australian who could be selected in the MLB Draft.

From July 14-16, a little over 600 players will be selected across twenty rounds.
There are a few Australian names surfacing around chat boards and in conversations with scouts because of the huge college seasons they just produced.

Here are ten of them.

Please note, a player may not be selected in the draft for a variety of reasons. This includes a player telling the team they are going back to school, or a team thinks they can sign them as a free agent after the draft.

Eligibility requirements:
– Junior College: Completed at least one year;
– Four Year Colleges: Completing their junior year or about to turn 21-years-old

Here are the ten players who had huge seasons in the recent college year who could generate interest from MLB clubs.

This list is not comprehensive. There are over 150 Australians playing college baseball. These views are my own and do not represent the player.

Still, it is exciting to consider that nine of these players are eligible for selection at the upcoming 2024 Under-23 World Cup.

TRAVIS BAZZANA

School: Oregon State University
Year: Junior (3rd)
Position: Infield

The 21-year-old from Sydney completed his junior season at Oregon State. In 60 games he hit .407 with 28 homers and 66 RBI.  He broke numerous school records including single-season homers, all-time home-runs and all-time hits.

There is significant buzz he could go in the Top 5 picks of the MLB Draft.

Read about Travis’ journey and see all the major media stories here.

BLAKE CAVILL

School: Western Kentucky
Year: Junior (3rd)
Position: Infield

The 22-year-old from Sydney hit .313 in his first season at an NCAA Division 1 school. He has another year of NCAA eligibility and it is expected Cavill will return for another season to increase his stock. His on-base-perecentage sat at .443 with 8 homers and 47 RBI

He is currently playing in the Cape Cod Summer League – a competition reserved for the best college baseball players in the country and home to a lengthy list of MLB stars.

BRENT IREDALE

School: New Mexico Junior College
Year: End of JUCO, transferring to Division I NCAA
Position: Infield

Iredale, a newly turned 21-year-old from Sydney, put up that good of a season he could very well be selected. He’s also committed to NCAA Division I program at Arkansas University. If he plays well there, his draft stock will sky rocket in future years.

Iredale was recently named one of the top Junior College prospects heading into the MLB Draft. He hit .441 with 25 homers and 78 RBI in 58 games this season. He also stole 24 bases. His 25 long balls was second in the country.

CHASE DIGGINS

School: Kansas University, NCAA Division I
Year: Completed Junior Season
Position: Infield

The 23-year-old from Perth missed about five weeks of time during the season. He only played in 21 games but he hit .297 but he had five multi-hit games including finishing the season with a seven-game hit streak.

Diggins is one of those players who could very well return for his senior year regardless for valuable playtime vs some of the country’s top arms.

JIMMY NATI

School: Stanford
Year: Completed Sophomore Season
Position: Infield

Nati hit .308 in 54 games as a first-year full-time starter. He had 22 doubles, 8 home runs, and 45 RBI. His 22 doubles ranked fourth in the Pac-12 and 24th in the nation.

Jimmy received a Pac-12 All-Conference honourable mention and was a Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week Winner in May.

The 21-year-old from Sydney is technically draft eligible but it feels likely he returns to Stanford as a junior to build on a tremendous season and increase his stock.

KAILEN HAMSON

School: Cumberland University, NAIA
Year: Completed Junior Season
Position: Left-handed pitcher

The Gold Coast lefty started six games with 21 appearances. He finished with an overall record of 6-1, an ERA of 5.88 and a batting average against of .279. He helped Cumberland reach the NAIA World Series.

In a great sign for Hanson, he struck out 79 batters in 56.2 innings making him a tantalising lefty-prospect.

KEENAN SPENCE

School: Purdue, NCAA Division I
Year: Completed Junior Season
Position: Outfielder

The 21-year-old hit .291 in 54 games, with 13 HR and 43 RBI. It was his first Division I season after two successful years in Junior College.

The Victorian seemed to get better as the season progressed. In a playoff game he hit two homers and made an over-the-wall catch which ended up on Sportscentre Top 10. 

He is eligible to return for another season.

ZAK SKINNER

School: Lamar University, NCAA Division I
Year: Completed Junior Season
Position: Catcher

The 22-year-old from Melbourne hit .339 in 58 games in his first year at a Division I school. He also slugged 10 homers with 53 RBI.

He came to Lamar after an All-Star career at Vernon College, hope to a couple Australian recruits this coming season.

CAYDEN NICOLETTO

School: Columbia College, NAIA
Year: Completed second year, but transferring to NCAA Division I
Position: Util

Nicoletto had an immense season. The Western Australian hit 27 homers in 55 games, while hitting .414 at the dish.

He announced his transfer to Missouri University – a school in the NCAA Division I powerhouse SEC conference – so I’d say it feels like that’s where he’ll be next year.

Perth catcher Jacob Santich has become the latest Australian to commit to college in the United States.

Santich will attend Hill College, a Junior College (JUCO) in Texas with strong Australian links.

Notable Australian alumni from Hill College includes Canberra Cavalry infielder Cam Warner, who went on to play Division 1 college and multiple seasons in the minor leagues. Sydney’s Dean Frew and Queensland’s Luke Cronan both played at Hill College and transferred to Division I schools after their JUCO careers.

“The main thing that led to my decision was the plan that the coaches had for me,” says Santich. “We spoke about what they wanted from me and how they were going to develop me into a better athlete and person and from there I thought they were the right school.”

Santich will head to the USA in August.

He’s also played some first base, including for Australia in a pre-Under 18 World Cup exhibition game vs Chinese Taipei.

“I hope I can become a strong bat that the team can rely heavily on as well as playing good defence behind the plate,” he says.

Santich plays for the Wanneroo Giants in the WA State League. He’s coming off a stellar Division 1 season where he posted a .370 average in 29 games, while smashing two homers and driving in 25 runs. Santich played with Perth Heat players Byron Armstrong and Tom Bailey this past season.

“Growing up watching State League and watching the older players go to college and play for the Heat really inspired me to try and take my baseball as far as possible,” he says.

Santich has been involved in multiple national junior programs, attending both U16 and U18 national camps.

He’s also a member of the WA Performance Pathways Program.

“Being involved in state and national programs really helped me get extra work in where I could,” says Santich. “Being coached by the best played a big factor in helping me prepare for the next level.”

Baseball Australia player development management sings the praises of Santich.

“Jacob has shown consistent development in both his swing, power and defensive abilities. He took some time after he finished high school to continue to improve and has done a good job with Wanneroo in the state league in Perth,” says Riddell. “Baseball Australia’s relationships with various high level college programs meant he had multiple offers and was able to choose the best fit for him based on position, playing tine, coaches, scholarships, location and hopefully playing well to transition to a university after a couple of years at a good Hill junior college program.”

Santich becomes one of approximately 150 Australians playing college baseball. Read the latest college stories here.

Congratulations to Jacob!

Western Australia’s Cayden Nicoletto will play in the best college baseball conference there is.

Nicoletto, who won the 2024 America Midwest Conference Player of the Year with the Columbia Cougars, announced his transfer to the University of Missouri earlier today.

Missouri plays in the SEC, a powerhouse conference of American athletics. A team from the SEC has won the last five College World Series.

Nicoletto had a break out year with Columbia in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a separate level to the NCAA in which the SEC resides.

The Australian outfielder hit .412 in 55 games this season, with 19 doubles, 27 homers, 81 RBI and was an NAIA all-American in 2024. He won the AMC Player of the Year.

Nicoletto is one of approximately 150 Australians playing college baseball in the United States.

For more college stories, click here.

Perth infielder Cam Landy says a major league Australian link helped him land on a college squad to play on.

Landy announced his commitment to National Park College in Arkansas this week. It’s a Junior College coached by one of Australia’s 39 big leaguers – Rich Thompson.

“I decided to commit to National Park College after talking to [Australians] about their experience there, and the high quality of baseball,” says Landy. “Having Rich Thompson as a head coach who is also from Australia and played in the big leagues will make the transition that little bit easier as well as his knowledge of what it takes to get to the next level as he has played at the highest level possible.”

Thompson, from New South Wales, pitched for the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics from 2007-2012 in the Major Leagues.

Landy will head stateside in August for the start of the American academic school year.

National Park has also seen New South Wales baseball’s Josh Beezley and Zach Murphy both play there.

Landy says he hopes to become a more well-rounded player at college.

“I look to improve in every aspect of the game physically and mentally and with the facilities provided to me by National Park…I believe that it’s possible,” he says. “My goal after National Park is to transition to a D1 college and follow players like Josh Beezley – who is now at Arkansas-Little Rock – who have successfully done after playing at National Park.”

While Division I baseball is the goal, Landy got his start at South Perth Baseball Club in Western Australia. He says his home club has been a big influence on his career.

South Perth is home to many Australian national team players including Will Sherriff, Jake Bowey, and major leaguer Warwick Saupold. Australian Baseball League players Kobe Foster and Jaxon Limpus also played in Division I with South Perth this year.

Landy hit .260 in Division I in 2023-24. He shared the team lead with two homers and was second on the squad with 18 RBI.

“Being around players and coaches who have played at such a high level has allowed me to learn the game and what it takes to play at that level,” says Landy.

He also says his father has been a big help when it comes to life and baseball.

“My dad has been a huge influence in my baseball, he’s always pushed me and made sacrifices to give me opportunities that I am forever grateful for. I must thank both of my parents as they have made sacrifices, and I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without them,” he says.

Landy was part of the 2022 National Junior Squad which went away for training camp ahead of the U18 World Cup.

Best of luck to Cam!

For more college stories, click here.