Bateman played with Cubs manager Craig Counsell's son Brady at Minnesota, where he developed into one of the best contact hitters, fastest runners and top defenders in the 2023 college crop. But his utter lack of power affected his Draft stock, even after he batted .500 during a two-week stint in the Cape Cod League, and he dropped to Chicago in the eighth round. He overcame surgery on his right hamate last February to hit .261/.376/.307 at Double-A, ranking third in walk rate (15 percent) and sixth in on-base percentage.
A left-handed hitter, Bateman rarely strays from the strike zone, rarely hits balls with authority and rarely lifts them in the air. He lacks strength and understands his limitations, so he focuses on reaching base by drilling grounders through holes in the defense and working walks. His approach comes at the expense of any power, and he's a career .315 slugger with three homers in 233 pro games.
Bateman's game is built around his plus-plus speed, which he uses to beat out hits, steal bases and chase down balls from gap to gap in center field. A two-way player until he had elbow surgery following his freshman year with the Gophers, he has solid arm strength and has notched 22 assists in 223 starts in center. He has drawn comparisons to Orioles 2023 first-rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Myles Straw.