First Pitch = First Knock! Brett Bateman's FIRST @MLB hit 👏
Brett Bateman provided unexpected jolt to Blue Jays’ lineup following deadline deal
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Oct 29, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 29, 2026, 13:18 EDT
Replacing someone who meant so much to a franchise is a tall task for any athlete.
That is exactly the spot Brett Bateman found himself in during the 2026 campaign when he made his major-league debut, as he was part of the return from the Chicago Cubs for Kevin Gausman.
How the year went
Acquired on August 2, Bateman was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo following the trade, but after Luis Urías suffered a quad injury, the 24-year-old received the call to join the Toronto Blue Jays in Philadelphia on August 7.
Bateman was inserted into the lineup, batting ninth and playing centre field later that night against Phillies right-hander and three-time All-Star Zack Wheeler. In his first career at-bat, Bateman drilled a first-pitch fastball from Wheeler off the left field wall for a double. Bateman finished the contest 1-for-2 with two walks, and while speaking on the 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast in October, he touched on what he went up looking for.
“I’m a rookie and it was towards the end of the year, so I knew I was probably going to get a first pitch heater,” Bateman said. “I was just focused on that and trying to get the barrel on the ball. I wasn’t trying to swing hard at all, I was just trying to get the foot down and be on time because it’s a good heater.”
After going 0-for-6 the following day, Bateman rattled off a six-game hitting streak, a stretch that included three RBIs and saw his average climb to .314. Listed as the Cubs’ No. 21-ranked prospect at the time of the trade, Bateman was little-known, so this start caught many fans off guard.
Bateman continued to impress over the course of August, finishing the month by appearing in 19 games and batting .333 with seven RBIs, while also reaching base at a .384 clip. By the end of his first month in the majors, Bateman was the Blue Jays’ everyday leadoff hitter and centre fielder, as he made his impact felt in such a short period of time.
Looking comfortable during one’s very first experience at the game’s highest level is not something many players can do right away, but Bateman credited the Blue Jays’ veterans with helping him make the adjustment as seamless as possible.
“Obviously, starting really well is good, but I think it’s different too when you’re in the clubhouse and you’re around a lot of veterans. Immediately, they have a lot of respect for you regardless if you are a rookie or not,” Bateman said. “I think guys like Bieber, Scherzer, and Springer did an unbelievable job of making me feel just included and allowed me to do whatever I can to try and help the team win games.”
September was much of the same for Bateman, as across 22 games he batted .325 with 11 RBIs. While not known for his power, a weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles allowed Bateman to flash the pop in his bat.
On September 11, Bateman launched his first career home run off Orioles right-hander Alex Hoppe in the ninth inning during a 7-4 Blue Jays loss. The following day, Bateman was back at it again, this time slugging a 403-foot solo shot off Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, a blast he knew was going to raise his home run total to two.
“I knew Bradish was going to give me something good. That’s kind of been the report, at least how I felt when I got called up. It’s just like, throw this kid strikes and if he hits a single it’s whatever,” Bateman said. “So, I just wanted to be a little bit more aggressive and he gave me something I definitely could do damage on. I was able to get out in front of 95 [MPH], so I knew I got that one.”
Bateman closed the 2026 campaign by appearing in 41 games and batting .329 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Bateman reached base at a .402 clip, stole three bases in three attempts, and showcased an ability to hold his own against left-handed pitching, highlighted by a .293 average in 58 at-bats.
In what is set to be an offseason of change, Bateman appears to have positioned himself well to be the Blue Jays’ centre fielder when spring training kicks off in February, and if he keeps this level of play up, he’ll only continue to rise up the ranks among Toronto’s fan base.
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That's 2 home runs for Brett Bateman in 2 games 💥 The Blue Jays lead the Orioles 5-0 after 3 innings 😤 19+
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