Overview
- The Blue Jays added outfielder Brett Bateman to their active roster and have him starting in center field and batting ninth against the Philadelphia Phillies for his major-league debut.
- Bateman was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the trade that sent right-hander Kevin Gausman to Chicago, making this call-up an early tangible result of that deadline deal.
- He arrives after an 84-game Triple-A season in which he hit .311 with a .429 on-base percentage, 91 hits, three home runs and 20 stolen bases.
- Scouts and club reports emphasize Bateman’s elite sprint speed (about 30.2 feet per second) and above-average center-field defense, with an offensive profile built on contact and getting on base rather than power.
- Roster moves that included Luis Urias going to the 10-day injured list and Rudy Martin Jr. being optioned cleared 40-man space for Bateman and give Toronto a short window late in the season to assess his big-league readiness and the trade’s early return.