Nick Mingione calls Travis Bazzana a 'super talented player'

Kentucky, in hosting Oregon State for the Lexington Super Regional this weekend, also brings one of the best players in the country to face off with the Wildcats in Beavers second baseman Travis Bazzana. And Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione raved about how Bazzana can cause problems.

It’s not just that Bazzana can hit for average and power in the Oregon State lineup, but he can punish you on the base paths if you intentionally walk him, Mingione said. It creates a vexing defensive situation for the Wildcats all weekend.

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“So we continue to watch video on him,” Mingione said. “He is a super talented player and not only does he have the ability to hit and hit for power, but he can absolutely fly. So this is a little different than maybe some of the other guys, to where if you just walk them, there’s no threat of the stolen base, it’s going to take a double to score them or maybe a triple to score them.”

As he continued to discuss what Bazzana can do, Mingione explained that walking him intentional can be as damaging as letting up a double.

“This guy is super, super talented on so many levels and his speed is one of the things that changes the game for him, because just because you put him on 1st base in one pitch, he can be on second base and it’s like you just gave up a double,” Mingione said. “So we’ll have to be really careful, continue to watch video of what’s the best way to attack him.” 

Bazzana is a Golden Spikes finalist

USA Baseball announced that Arkansas‘ Hagen Smith, Georgia‘s Charlie Condon and Bazzana are the finalists for this season’s award.

The trio is among the most highly rated MLB Draft prospects in the sport.

Bazzana is currently ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 draft prospect after putting together a monster season for the Beavers. He helped his squad advance to the Super Regionals, where it will face Kentucky this weekend.

The talented second baseman has done it all en route to being named a Golden Spikes Award finalist. He became Oregon State’s all-time leader in both hits and home runs this season, bashing a Pac-12 best 28 home runs. He can also hit for average, though, checking in at .415.

He was the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.