{
  "id": 648768,
  "title": "Brett Bateman’s Major League Baseball career off to fast start with Toronto Blue Jays",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/brett-batemans-major-league-baseball-career-off-to-fast-start-with",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/2026/08/12/brett-batemans-major-league-baseball-career-off-to-fast-start-with-toronto-blue-jays"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "TORONTO - Brett Bateman's Major League Baseball debut with the Toronto Blue Jays has been nothing short of impressive. Bateman, who likened the experience of playing in triple-A and the major leagues to be virtually identical, drove in two runs on two hits during the Blue Jays' 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. As a result, his batting average rose to .273 in just his fifth major-league appearance, and he posted a .697 on-base plus slugging percentage.\n\nBateman, selected by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB draft, spent two years in the Cubs' minor-league system before making his debut with the Blue Jays' triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y. He was subsequently traded to Toronto on August 2 for Kevin Gausman and made his MLB debut on August 7 to replace injured infielder Luis Urias.\n\nBateman emphasized the importance of trusting in one's abilities during the game, stating, \"It’s baseball, right? They have a ball and they’ve got to throw it over the plate. As long as you’re on time for the heater, you’re gonna make a good decision.\" The 24-year-old centre-fielder has quickly become a fan favorite, with manager John Schneider praising Bateman's work ethic and likable personality. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease also commended Bateman's performance, highlighting his clutch hits and RBIs.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}