Brett Bateman already feels at home with the Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays rookie outfielder Brett Bateman has hit the ground running since making his major league debut last week. The 24-year-old has felt right at home in his first few games with his new team after being acquired along with minor-league infielder Ty Southisene in a high-profile trade-deadline deal with the Chicago Cubs for former ace Kevin Gausman. 

Bateman profiles as a speedy, high-contact hitter with developing power who has largely taken over as Toronto’s primary center fielder after another fan favorite, Daulton Varsho, was also traded last week. A few days after a flurry of trades, the former eighth-round draft pick was called up to the majors and was in the lineup batting ninth and roaming center field. 

The left-handed hitter wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment and ripped a double to left field off Zach Wheeler in his first plate appearance. He scored on a sac fly two plays later and reached base on walks in his next two at-bats.

Hitting near the top of the order has galvanized Brett Bateman and the Blue Jays' offense

That flashy debut saw Bateman moved all the way up to second in the batting order for the next game, and, aside from a one-game assignment as leadoff hitter, that's where he’s been slotted in the lineup every game since. He went hitless in six AB’s with a pair of strikeouts in his second game, but has at least one hit in every other game he’s played so far. 

Earning the trust of his Manager, John Schneider, to bat that high in the order, not to mention the positive early results in his career, has to help Bateman’s confidence. Hitting Coach David Popkins also remarked that Bateman has a “slow heart rate,” as reported by Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae during a recent broadcast. He has a calm, quiet confidence that is palpable.

Through six games, Bateman is hitting .259 (7/27) with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI. He’s looked comfortable both in centre and left field and has flashed plus-speed on the basepaths. He’s also felt the love from the Blue Jays fanbase, who have continued to show up in droves despite the team’s low playoff odds. 

He was featured in Mae’s postgame interview following Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox and was introduced to Vladimir Guerrero’s infamous Gatorade bath celebration. He discussed his experience as a Blue Jay so far after Wednesday’s game, another win over Boston. 

“It feels like I've been here for a few years, honestly. The fans, the team, the org, they just have a bunch of trust in me like I've been here for a long time." The faith the staff and fans have shown in Bateman is warranted. He enjoyed a strong season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, batting .312 with 18 doubles and 20 stolen bases before finding his new home in Toronto.  

Over the past two games, Bateman has followed Charles McAdoo atop the batting lineup. The two rookies have injected energy into a team that has won five straight series and is suddenly back into the wild-card race. The infusion of young talent could be the missing piece to salvage what seemed like a lost season. 

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