Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: On base three times in return
Rotowire
Bateman went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Reds.
Out of the starting lineup the last three games due to a sore hip, Bateman slotted back in atop the order as the center fielder and looked none the worse for wear. The 24-year-old has had a dazzling big-league debut since earning a promotion in early August, slashing .325/.400/.422 in his first 40 games with two homers, three steals, 11 RBI and 27 runs, and while he's made a strong case for a starting role in 2027, Bateman will be hard-pressed to repeat his .403 BABIP over a full campaign.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Expected back Saturday
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Bateman (hip) is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against the Reds, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Bateman left Monday's game with right hip discomfort and has not seen the field since, but he is making progress and it sounds like he will play again this weekend, even with the Blue Jays now officially out of playoff contention. Depending on how Bateman responds to pregame work Friday, he could be available off the bench for the series opener against Cincinnati.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Out again Friday
Rotowire
Bateman (hip) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
Bateman hasn't played since Monday due to right hip discomfort, but his MRI was negative and the Blue Jays have not officially closed the door on him playing again this season. Charles McAdoo will get a turn in the leadoff spot Friday against left-hander Nick Lodolo.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Day-to-day after negative MRI
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that an MRI on Bateman's right hip came back negative, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Bateman is dealing with some inflammation in his hip, but he has a chance to play later this week if he bounces back well in the coming days. While Bateman recuperates, Myles Straw is covering center field for the Blue Jays in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Absent from lineup
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Bateman (hip) is absent from the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Bateman was lifted from Monday's contest due to right hip discomfort and is considered day-to-day. Myles Straw will patrol center field and will bat eighth for the Blue Jays while Bateman recuperates.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Exits with knee injury
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Bateman left Monday's game against the Orioles with an apparent right knee injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Bateman made a sliding catch in the outfield to end the second inning, but his right knee appeared to get jammed in the outfield grass, and he stayed down after the play. He was eventually able to make his way off the field with the help of the team medical staff and is presumably headed for further evaluation. Bateman can be considered day-to-day until further notice.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Smacks first major-league homer
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Bateman went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run during Toronto's 7-4 loss to Baltimore on Friday.
It was another disappointing loss for a Blue Jays team looking to sneak into the playoffs, but Bateman gave the home fans something to cheer for with a two-run homer in the ninth inning to make the score look more respectable. It was the first major-league home run of Bateman's career and only his seventh homer at any level since being selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 24-year-old outfielder has an .826 OPS with three steals, nine RBI and seven extra-base hits across 134 plate appearances this season.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Three more hits in Thursday's win
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Bateman went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Thursday's win over the Guardians.
It's Bateman's third three-hit performance in his last 11 games as he continues to provide a jolt to the top of the Blue Jays' batting order. Over that stretch, the rookie center fielder has a stunning .395/.449/.488 slash line with two doubles, a triple, two steals, three RBI and 10 runs scored.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Taking seat Thursday
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Bateman is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.
Bateman started the last five contests and reached base 10 times over that span, but he will begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Daz Cameron, Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes will patrol the outfield in Thursday's rubber match.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Back in action Friday
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Bateman (hamstring) is leading off and playing center field Friday against the Yankees.
Bateman was removed from Wednesday's game with right hamstring tightness and sat out Thursday's contest against the Rays. Through his first 51 plate appearances in the big leagues, Bateman is slashing .271/.314/.313 with two doubles, four RBI, four runs scored, one stolen base and a 3:10 BB:K. He's played above-average defense in center field.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Not in lineup Thursday
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Bateman (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Rays.
Bateman had to be removed from Wednesday's game because of right hamstring tightness, so it's not a surprise he's not ready to play in Thursday's afternoon contest. Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, an MRI on Bateman's hamstring came back negative, and he could be available off the bench. Myles Straw will handle center field for Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Exiting starting nine
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Bateman is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.
Bateman had made seven straight starts, but the left-handed hitter will take a seat as the Red Sox send southpaw Payton Tolle to the bump. Myles Straw will patrol center field for the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Makes impact in MLB debut
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Bateman went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.
Making his MLB debut, Bateman got the start in center field and hit ninth and didn't appear overmatched -- the 24-year-old lashed the very first pitch he saw from Zack Wheeler off the wall in left-center field, missing a homer by a foot or two. The Blue Jays have a vacancy in center after trading Daulton Varsho at the deadline, and Bateman could claim the strong side of a platoon with Myles Straw if he keeps producing. Over 84 Triple-A games this season between Buffalo and Iowa, Bateman compiled a .311/.429/.416 slash line with three homers and 20 steals.
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Blue Jays' Brett Bateman: Dealt to Blue Jays
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The Blue Jays acquired Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for right-hander Kevin Gausman, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old Bateman has had an impressive season at Triple-A Iowa, slashing .312/.430/.421 with three home runs and 20 steals over 82 games. He'll report to the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo and could have a shot at making his MLB debut later this season, though Toronto would need to add him to its 40-man roster.
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Cubs' Brett Bateman: Slated for hamate surgery
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Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Bateman will undergo hamate bone surgery on his right hand, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
It's a surgery that typically sidelines a player for around six weeks, so Bateman will get a late start to the season. Once healthy, he's likely to be assigned to Double-A Tennessee.
