Commitment Spotlight: '20 Brett Bateman, OF/LHP, Mounds View
September 30, 2019
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Brett Bateman
Class of 2020 / OF
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2020
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Primary Position: OF
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High School: Mounds ViewState: MN
- Summer Team: Great Lakes
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Height: 5-10Weight: 160lbs
- Bat/Throw: L/L
Statistics
Videos
(7/9/19)
PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
Bateman: I chose Minnesota because growing up I always had a love for the culture and the school in general is amazing. I've always wanted to play for the Gophers, and it was my dream school for a long period of time in my life. Playing for the hometown and being close to home was also something I loved, because family means a lot to me.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Bateman: Michigan, Creighton, Southern Mississippi, Purdue, NDSU, San Francisco.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?
Bateman: I'm fairly sure they saw me first at our Section/State tournaments for high school. I worked with Justin Musil and Elite Sports Advising, and they helped me so much with reaching out to the Minnesota. It happened over a lot of time with calls and texting, but it worked out in the end.
PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
Bateman: For sure, I think I still have a lot on my plate, and I have to represent the U of M well, but I find myself with less pressure and having more fun.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
Bateman: The one thing that put it over the top was definitely the hometown feel and how close it was.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Bateman: Definitely my dad, he has pushed me so hard to get where I am and he was the one who introduced me to the game. He would always bring me to the nearby park, and we would take swings and work on my swing, always giving me pointers every time. He would invite me to his own practices with his team so I could get work in and create a better relationship with him.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
Bateman: I thought it was going to be very slow, but it was totally the opposite of that. Especially when September 1st came around, I had a lot of schools calling me asking a lot of questions and it went very fast. I also had a lot of visits lined up as well. But overall, I thought it was fairly easy.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
Bateman: I'm not 100% sure, but I do think they want me to start in the outfield freshman year. As well as relieve on the mound for pitching.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Bateman: Winning our section for high school baseball in the 2018 season. The group of seniors were the best leaders I've ever met, and I've never had more fun with a team in life. I will never forget those guys.
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
Bateman: Drew Gilbert for sure, he's one heck of a pitcher on the mound. As a lefty he has one of the best curveballs I've ever faced and his velocity for his size is incredible. He's got a great future and he's a great dude as well.
Scouting Report
Brett Bateman, Mounds View (MN), 2020 - Minnesota
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds.
Defense: Action are athletic, feet set up behind and work through the baseball in stride, clean exchange.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Clean loose arm action, over the top slot, played accurate from the outfield.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, subtle leg lift to short stride, hands load back. Loose hands, uphill plane, creates line drive contact to both gaps, gets into lower half.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. Deliberate start, better top end.
6/17/18- 5-foot-9, 152-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 6.85 runner. Tall stance, easy load, some lift through contact, uses lower half in swing, routinely squares baseball with ability to use whole field, 82 mph exit velocity. Above avg. defender in outfield, moves with easy actions, above avg. hands and footwork, clean loose arm action with accuracy and carry to target, 86 mph arm from outfield. Controlled delivery on mound, clean arm action from high ¾ slot, lands inline to catcher with finish to plate, shows polish and athleticism on mound. Fastball was 81-83 mph with late arm-side run for strikes. Sharp late break on 1/7 curveball. Late down action on changeup for strikes.
3/17/18- 5-foot-8, 145-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.16 runner. Tall balanced stance with knee to knee trigger, shows hard line drive contact to middle of field, stays on and through baseball well. 82 mph exit velocity. Solid in outfield with above avg. arm, works through ball, has footwork and sure hands, shows actions in field and covers ground well, 84 mph arm from outfield. Bateman did not have the highest velocity at the event, but he presented himself as a more polished left-hander with a quick arm who could make a jump as his frame matures. Currently 5-foot-8, 145-pounds, the young looking southpaw sat 79-80 with his fastball which he threw to the bottom of the zone. He showcased some feel for a changeup with arm side life at 72-75, but it was his curveball that set him apart. Thrown with fastball hand speed, and featuring tight, two-tier break and 1/7 shape, Bateman’s curveball has a chance to be a weapon moving forward. He throws the pitch with confidence at 67-69, and as he continues to get stronger, he may throw it harder in the future. Still a bit further away given his size, Bateman’s quick arm and feel for the curveball makes him an interesting arm to follow, especially since he is a left-hander.