Free agent pickups: AL Central rookies headline th...
Key takeaways
- Bazzana has handled the leadoff chores for the Guardians in 22 of their past 25 games, including six against a left-handed starter, a role he should maintain for the remainder of the season (even after Ramirez's return).
- In the 12 contests since, he has finally seemed to click, batting .375/.407/.708 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and, in most encouraging fashion, a 14.8% strikeout rate.
- Jensen's contact quality remains excellent (he has a 51.1% hard-hit rate in June) and the regular role gives him added value as a fantasy catcher-eligible.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
In the wake of Jose Ramirez's absence, Travis Bazzana has stepped up big time for the Guardians and for fantasy managers. AP Photo/Kayla Wolf Tristan H. Cockcroft Jun 22, 2026, 12:00 PM ETClose Tristan H. Cockcroft is senior writer for fantasy baseball and football at ESPN. Tristan is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. He is also a two-time LABR and three-time Tout Wars champion.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions. A pair of American League Central rookies share a commonality: Both are left-handed hitters, both finished the past week amongst the top 10 hitters in terms of fantasy points scored, and -- most importantly -- both remain available in a vast majority of ESPN leagues. It's time to remedy that latter trait.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians (28.1.% rostered): In the wake of Jose Ramirez's left hamate fracture (an injury that will keep him out beyond the All-Star break at the earliest), the Guardians are in search of someone -- anyone -- who can lead their offense in the veteran's stead. Bazzana, the first overall selection in the 2024 draft, made his case over the past week, scoring 34 fantasy points behind .429/.520/.952 hitting rates and three home runs with two of them coming in the team's 8-1 Saturday victory in Houston. The rookie continued to demonstrate his elite strike-zone judgment (his 12.1% walk rate places in the 80th percentile) and his spike in contact quality (he had a 55.6% hard-hit rate for the week) was a good sign that he's beginning to develop into a run producer.
Bazzana has handled the leadoff chores for the Guardians in 22 of their past 25 games, including six against a left-handed starter, a role he should maintain for the remainder of the season (even after Ramirez's return). Between that and his plate approach, he's an ideal skills fit for our standard league point scoring system.