Blue Jays Rookie Brett Bateman Came One Swing From History

Toronto's rookie has found early MLB success without relying on the long ball.

Brett Bateman reacts after hitting a single against the New York Yankees Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brett Bateman finished a homer shy of the cycle during Friday’s 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees, collecting a single, double and triple while much of the rest of Toronto’s lineup struggled to remember what proper offense looked like.

Bateman followed that performance with two more hits and a walk in Saturday's 4-3 victory. Entering Sunday's series finale, the 24-year-old was batting .321 with a .367 on-base percentage through his first 15 major league games.

Through 58 Major League at-bats, Bateman has yet to send a ball over the fence. That might lead a scout or two to take a victory lap, but Bateman has done a pretty good job making sure the lack of power is not the only thing worth talking about.

Bateman Knows What Kind of Hitter He Is

Brett Bateman hits a single against the New York Yankees Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Toronto acquired Bateman from the Chicago Cubs alongside Ty Southisene in the Kevin Gausman trade earlier this month. At the time, MLB Pipeline described Bateman as a player who rarely hits for power but consistently makes contact and reaches base. He had only six home runs across 317 career minor league games entering his promotion.

Bateman must have gotten a copy of that scouting report, because he addressed the lack of power himself after his MLB debut.

“I try not to focus on the things that I’m not good at and focus on the things I’m really good at,” Bateman told MLB.com.

That mindset is particularly useful in an MLB environment increasingly obsessed with power. Modern prospect evaluation puts plenty of emphasis on how hard a player can hit the ball and whether his swing allows him to elevate it instead of producing wormburners. Raw strength and launch angle are two indicators evaluators can use when projecting whether a prospect has more power to unlock.

MLB Pipeline has made a similar point, calling the home run “the most efficient event in sports” because one swing can put runs on the board. Still, it also notes that outliers such as Chandler Simpson exist. Not every player needs to deposit balls into the upper deck to make an impact.

Bateman could eventually become another outlier. Statcast shows that, in his limited Major League action, he has kept his whiff and strikeout rates relatively low. He also brings plenty of athleticism, ranking in the 92nd percentile in sprint speed and the 95th percentile in arm strength.

It is still far too early to know exactly what Bateman will become, but his first few weeks have shown how a player can create value without checking every traditional scouting box. Maybe more power eventually develops. If it does not, his contact ability, speed, defense and arm strength still give him several other ways to provide value.