The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to have avoided a worst-case scenario with centre fielder Brett Bateman.

Bateman departed Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles after recording the third out on a sliding catch in the bottom of the second inning. The 24-year-old tumbled over himself awkwardly on the wet grass in centre, remnants from the almost hour-long rain delay before first pitch, immediately grabbing his right leg after completing the play.

The Blue Jays’ rookie outfielder remained on the ground in visible pain as manager John Schneider and one of the club’s trainers jogged onto the field to assess him. Moments later, he walked off gingerly under his own power but required assistance while heading down the tunnel towards the visiting clubhouse.

Bateman was ultimately ruled out with right hip discomfort, according to the club’s announcement. They also shared that he had undergone precautionary X-rays, which returned negative and didn’t reveal a fracture.

After the game, Schneider told reporters at Camden Yards that Bateman’s hip felt “tender” and that he’d be listed as day-to-day moving forward. He also dismissed the notion of any knee or ankle injury, which the team had initially feared while watching the play in real time.

Even before postponing Tuesday night’s contest due to inclement weather, turning Wednesday’s finale into a doubleheader, Bateman was unlikely to return to Toronto’s lineup less than 24 hours later. With an off-day on Thursday, it remains unclear if he’ll remain sidelined in both halves of the doubleheader before potentially re-entering for Friday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

If Bateman doesn’t suit up Wednesday, Myles Straw — who entered as his replacement a night ago — would be the obvious choice to start in centre, with Nathan Lukes also serving as an option. Should Bateman require an IL stint coming out of Thursday’s off-day, Rudy Martin Jr. (hamstring) could swap places with him, as he’d be eligible to be activated by then.

Since joining the Blue Jays on Aug. 7 in Philadelphia, Bateman has impressed across a .320/.394/.413 slash line and 133 wRC+ (100 league average) with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games, worth 1.7 fWAR — first among the club’s position players in that span.

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