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Brett Bateman’s first week in majors has been ‘a dream come true’
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Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Aug 14, 2026, 20:30 EDTUpdated: Aug 14, 2026, 20:42 EDT
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TORONTO — Brett Bateman has barely had time to come up for air since fulfilling his lifelong dream at Citizens Bank Park last week, the site of his major-league debut.
“I still haven’t fully realized how far I’ve come,” said Bateman, who hadn’t played above Double-A in the Chicago Cubs’ minor-league system prior to this season.
The 24-year-old outfielder headed to Triple-A Iowa after spring training wrapped in Arizona. His chances of debuting in the majors at that point were pretty slim, even as a soon-to-be Rule 5 candidate this winter, given that the Cubs already had some guy named Pete Crow-Armstrong — the front-runner to win this year’s NL MVP, depending on who you ask — already established as a pillar in centre field.
Despite putting together an impressive season at the highest minor-league level, Bateman was more or less blocked at his position down there. It was quite possible that he’d end up spending the entire year in Iowa.
Well, as life would have it, the baseball universe had other plans for the second half of his 2026 campaign.
Bateman now finds himself in the majors, earning regular playing time in centre on a Blue Jays team — who acquired him and fellow prospect Ty Southisene from the Cubs in return for pending free agent Kevin Gausman less than two weeks ago — making a late and unexpected push for the final playoff spot in a jumbled American League wild-card race.
“I’ve kind of been thrown straight to the dogs and you’re still trying to float a little bit,” he said before leading off against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole on Friday. “Overall, it’s a dream come true. Right now we’re in a race, and I’m trying to do everything in my power to help the team win a few games and get in the last wild-card spot.”
Suffice to say, it’s been somewhat of a chaotic week for the club’s newly acquired centre fielder. He made his organizational debut in Buffalo on Aug. 5. Then, just two games later, he jumped on a flight to Philadelphia for his first major-league game — and he’s played almost every day since then, receiving his only day off during Thursday’s afternoon series finale against the Red Sox.
With the profile of a plus defender and runner, paired with his contact ability and quality swing decisions, the Blue Jays clearly sensed coming out of the trade deadline that Bateman possessed the necessary traits to have an immediate impact. So far, they’ve been proven correct, both offensively and defensively.
Entering Friday’s pivotal showdown against New York, the left-handed-hitting rookie had supplied seven hits — including two doubles — across his first 27 at-bats, walking twice and striking out six times. In the field, he’s already converted one defensive run saved in five starts in centre while accounting for plus-one fielding run value through 49.1 innings.
They’re both tiny sample sizes. At the same time, though, the organization is giving him plenty of runway to prove he can continue to help this group amidst its second wind. Whether it’s hitting first or second in the order or controlling the outfield, they believe in what he brings.
“It comes with a heavy burden of trying to be able to perform every day and win a few games, but it’s also exciting too,” Bateman said. “That means that there’s an org that trusts you and your ability and what you’re showing and what you can do. Now it’s just about executing and getting things done on the field.”
Bouncing across three different cities (Buffalo, Philadelphia and Toronto) is enough of an adjustment on its own for a young player, especially when you’re playing in your first two big-league stadiums in two of those destinations. Settling in doesn’t come easy in that respect. Nor does facing the calibre of starting pitchers he already has, either.
Bateman’s debut came against Zack Wheeler, whom he doubled off by ambushing a first-pitch fastball for his first major league hit in as many plate appearances. The next day, he faced Aaron Nola. Then, to round out the series, he went toe-to-toe in a tough left-on-left matchup versus Jesús Luzardo and wound up hitting a single off him.
Upon arriving in Toronto for the first time, he batted second against Sonny Gray, Patrick Sandoval and Ranger Suarez in each of those games. With the Yankees in town this weekend, he’ll be exposed to Cole, as well as Cam Schlittler — he and Dylan Cease have been matching each other start for start in the tight AL Cy Young race — and Ryan Weathers. It’s a tall mountain to climb.
“I remember watching those guys when I was in college, some of them even in high school,” Bateman said. “They’ve had very successful careers, and all I can do is just have an approach prepared and just try and execute.
“These guys have been at the pinnacle of MLB pitching for a while, so if I don’t get a good pitch to hit, or if you swing and miss, it’s how it is. It’s just however much pressure you put on yourself.”
The Blue Jays have been seeing most teams’ best guys in this recent stretch, and they’re finding a way to thrive in these conditions.
“I think it’s fun. It’s a challenge. You really get to see what you’re made of as a hitter,” Bateman said.
For as much Bateman has had thrown at him, he hasn’t been tackling this journey alone. His dad, Keith, who spent over two decades as the head coach for Augsburg University in Minnesota before being promoted to Associate Athletic Director this year, has always been in his corner.
Even with both of their busy schedules, they’re still able to carve out time for regular phone calls, during which they discuss numerous topics — baseball, everyday news, their day-to-day lives and the Minnesota Vikings, since they’re both die-hard fans of their hometown NFL team.
When the Vikings named Kyler Murray — the former Athletics multi-sport prospect — their starting quarterback earlier this week, for example, both Brett and Keith shared their reactions, debating whether it’ll lead to a significant improvement over second-year QB J.J. McCarthy — who’s now slotted as the backup.
“He tries to stay out of my business,” Bateman chuckled. “At the end of the day, you’re still my father, and I want to talk to you all the time. He’s busy, too. Jumping from the head coaching job to assistant athletic director is a pretty big jump.
“[But] he’s been trying to fit in the time that he has to try and reach out. If I’m not busy, I’m picking up the call and talking to him.”
Though the Bateman family attended Brett’s major-league debut in Philadelphia, that contingent hasn’t made their way north of the border just yet. But there are tentative plans to do so before the end of September.
In addition to Brett’s father, new teammates George Springer and Myles Straw have also joined his support team. They’ve made sure to integrate him as simply one of the guys. He may be a rookie, with fewer than 10 games under his belt as a big leaguer. But he certainly hasn’t felt like an outsider coming over from another organization.
“It’s mostly just the camaraderie. It doesn’t feel like I’m not included in a lot of stuff,” Bateman said, adding Andrés Giménez to the list of teammates who’ve offered guidence when needed. “It’s just little things. It’s not like they’re coming up to me and trying to be controlling at all. It’s kind of just letting me do my thing, and then whenever there’s times for tips or other stuff like that, they’re just helping out.”
For now, Bateman is enjoying keeping a low profile as he explores his new home. The other day, he and Louis Varland took to the streets of Toronto for some ice cream when a couple of fans recognized the club’s closer from a distance. As they continued walking, they could hear them whisper, “Hey, is that Louis Varland?”
The two also had a good chuckle, though, seeing as they didn’t realize Bateman was there, too.
“I’m here to have fun,” Bateman said when asked what impression he hopes to give the fan base. “We get paid to play a kid’s game, right? So, I’m not trying to put pressure on myself. I’m just trying to play the game hard. I’m trying to have fun, and ultimately, I think if I’m able to do that, to be myself, I think I’m going to help the team win.”
At this rate, it may not be long before people start recognizing him in public, as well.

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