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Blue Jays: Getting to know Brett Bateman, the outfield prospect acquired in the Kevin Gausman trade
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Photo credit: © Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Aug 2, 2026, 22:15 EDTUpdated: Aug 2, 2026, 22:18 EDT
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Add another left-handed batting outfielder to the Toronto Blue Jays prospect pool.
On Sunday evening, the Blue Jays sent Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman. We’ve already gotten to know Southisene, but what about Bateman?
Of the two, Bateman is the more MLB-ready prospect, most recently playing for the Iowa Cubs, the Cubs’ Triple-A team. Bateman ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 21st-best Cubs prospect.
Let’s get to know the outfielder!
Getting to know Brett Bateman
Bateman is a 24-year-old centre fielder who stands at 5’10”, 170 lbs. After spending three seasons at the University of Minnesota, the Cubs selected him in the eighth round of the 2023 draft, signing him to a bonus of $180,000.
He finished out his season in Single-A, slashing ..298/.431/.327 with no home runs in 130 plate appearances, as well as more walks (18.5 BB%) than strikeouts (14.6 K%). Overall, he had a 134 wRC+, hitting just three doubles.
In his first full season, 2024, the outfielder split his time between High-A and Double-A. In High-A, Bateman slashed .283/.401/.352 with a home run in 359 plate appearances, with a 15.6 BB% and 15.9 K% for a 126 wRC+. Upon his promotion to Double-A, he slashed .241/.331/.250 with no home runs in 128 plate appearances for a 81 wRC+.
Bateman repeated the Double-A level in 2025, and slashed a much better .261/.376/.307 with two home runs in 396 plate appearances. Like his brief time in Double-A the season before, Bateman had a higher strikeout rate than walk rate.
The 24-year-old has spent the entire season in Triple-A, slashing .312/.431/.422 with three home runs in 346 plate appearances for a 126 wRC+. While he’s still struck out more than he’s walked, his 17.3 BB% is incredibly high. He’s also a force to be reckoned with on the bases, stealing 20 of 23 bases this season, an improvement on his 19/25 in 2025.
Of the two prospects the Blue Jays got in return for Gausman, Bateman is the lower-ranked player according to MLB Pipeline. He ranked 21st on the Cubs list, and like Southisene, Bateman has 20-grade power, which again, is not great. He also has a 50 hit tool.
That said, there are more positives with his other tools, namely his plus-plus run tool, graded at 70. He’s also a potential Myles Straw replacement, earning a 65 grade for his fielding and 55 grade for his arm. He has far less power potential than Varsho.
Both Bateman and Southisene have a high-floor, but offer a very low ceiling. Bateman may actually earn a look with the Blue Jays later this season, depending on the other trades they end up making.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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