Brett Bateman (hamstring) returns to Jays’ lineup

It took him just over a month, but Bateman finally notched his first big league homer. It was a shot too, traveling 403 feet over the fence in center field at the Rogers Centre to cut the Orioles lead from five to three in the ninth. That would be the end of the comeback attempt though. Still, Bateman chipped in two more hits and has been the Jays’ lead-off hitter for about a month straight since being acquired at the trade deadline and then called up in early August. With a .333 batting average over that span, he’ll likely hold that spot through the end of the season too.

Bateman has come in at .347/.412/.406 through 116 plate appearances and is getting high marks for his defense. Barring a serious drought these last three weeks, it seems like he’s going to be penciled in as the Jays’ center fielder next year.

Bateman said he felt a pinch in his hamstring running up the line in the top of the third inning last night and came out when it tightened up in the fifth inning. He was set to undergo an MRI last night but we don’t know what came of it yet. Myles Straw and Daz Cameron are both in the lineup against LHP Ian Seymour today.

Bateman was 0-for-2 before being replaced by Myles Straw in the fifth inning. He’ll undergo further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. The 24-year-old rookie has hit .271 (13-for-48) with four RBI and one steal in 11 games since being called up earlier this month.

It’s been a little surprising to see Bateman getting starts against lefties here at the beginning of his major league career, but he doubled and singled off Patrick Sandoval to make a big difference in the victory tonight. He’s 6-for-22 through five games, and he should offer some value in deeper leagues as long as he continues to play regularly and hit first or second for the Jays.

Acquired in the Kevin Gasuman trade of a few days ago, Bateman will likely start splitting time with Myles Straw in center field, perhaps as the strong side of a platoon if he gets off to a quick enough start. It’s not a fantasy-friendly profile on paper, as he was hitting .311/.429/.416 between two Triple-A clubs with 20 stolen bases and just three homers. He’ll likely bat low in the order.

The Jays have been prioritizing contact over strikeouts these last couple of years, and their prospects of choice here continue the trend. Bateman isn’t quite as skilled at making contact as Southisene, but at least he does offer doubles power with his lefty bat. The 24-year-old was hitting .312/.431/.422 with three homers and 20 steals for Triple-A Iowa this year. As a capable center fielder, he should fit in nicely as a bench bat. The Jays might be inclined to give him a look in the near future if they move Daulton Varsho before the deadline.

Is it too late to fold this into the Jameson Taillon trade? The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon says the Jays will get outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene in return. Gausman was 6-10 with a 4.38 ERA in a down year for the Jays, but he’s durable and could step it up in October, like he did in posting a 2.93 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance during last year’s World Series run. He’ll be a free agent at season’s end.

Dean was claimed off waivers twice this offseason after playing a bench role for the Dodgers in the World Series. He’ll provide bench help if called upon.