Getting to Know: Cubs eighth rounder Brett Bateman |
After going with a pair of high school prospects in rounds six and seven, the Cubs returned to the collegiate circuit for round eight as they continued looking for mid-round talent. While taking a high school player earlier in the draft sometimes works out, it is also a significant risk as they are more of a long-term project.
That is why I have been a fan of drafting college players first and high school players second, as they have the experience that could lead to quick production for the big club. With their eighth round pick in the 2023 MLB draft, the Cubs selected Brett Bateman, OF, from the University of Minnesota. When you think of NCAA baseball, the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 immediately come to mind. However, there are some successful programs in the Midwest and the Big 10, with Minnesota being one of those successful programs that churn out draft picks every year. Bateman is the next in a never-ending pipeline for this university, and now he is calling the Cubs organization home. The 5-10 170-pounder is undersized regarding an OF, but there is still a lot to like about his overall game. For starters, this contact-first player knows how to put the ball in play. Take away his freshman season in Minnesota, where he hit just .250; his past two seasons have been much better as he hit a .312 in 2022 and followed that up with .354 this season. Along with his average, Bateman has an excellent eye at the plate, as he has taken more walks than strikeouts. In the past two seasons alone, Bateman has drawn 54 walks as opposed to 42 strikeouts which is why his on-base percentage is north of .450. Bateman is also a base-stealing threat whenever he is on the bases, as he has gone 38-49 the past two seasons, including 17-21 this year. All those attributes align with what the Cubs have been trying to do as they have gone away from players who strike out a ton and are now focussing on contact-first players. Bateman is one of those guys, and even if he is a few years away from making a difference, he is a great player in your system. Despite the good offensive numbers, Bateman has virtually little to no power, as he never hit a homer in college. He also drove in just 28 RBIs, which will never be part of his game. You can put him at the top of your lineup as he not only puts the ball in play but knows how to get on base. That is all you can ask from a leadoff hitter as he draws similar comparisons to what Nick Madrigal was doing when he was in school. In a time when baseball has been going with high-velocity arms, having a guy who can make contact and put the ball in play is crucial. The Cubs have some of that right now with Nico Hoerner and Madrigal, but Hoerner has been struggling for a while now with Madrial on the IL. Looking further down into the Cubs system, Darius Hill is a guy that comes to mind regarding the style the Cubs want to play, as well as Ezequiel Pagan. Bateman will be the next one of these players once he is assigned somewhere, and it will be curious to see what he can do. Besides his high OBP and contact rate, Bateman also plays solid defense which will come in handy at the pro level. He is one of those players that knows how to go after a ball and will leave it all out there to make a play. He is a good defender in the outfield as a plus runner who should be able to play all three outfield positions, but he does an excellent job in center and should stick there at the next level. Although he wasn't their prized pick in this year's draft, Bateman is certainly a player to keep an eye on in the coming years, as his skill set could have him moving through the system faster than others.
