Joe Bateman

Jamie W. "Joe" Bateman (born May 6, 1980 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts) is a minor league baseball pitcher for the Bridgeport Bluefish.
College
Bateman was a standout at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Massachusetts from 1999 through 2002. In one of his first starts as a freshman, the three-time All-Conference pitcher tossed a no-hitter against Salem State College.
Minor league career
Bateman was first signed by the San Francisco Giants on June 7, 2002. He began the season with their Class A (Short Season) affiliate, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. After playing there again in , he was promoted to the Class A Hagerstown Suns in . During the season, he was promoted to the Double-A Norwich Navigators. During his only at bat of the season, Bateman became the first pitcher in Navigators history to hit a home run.
In , he played for the Giants' Class A-Advanced San Jose Giants. In and , he again played for their Double-A club, which had changed to the Connecticut Defenders. In six seasons in the Giants' minor league system, Bateman achieved a 26-24 win-loss record, recorded a 3.07 ERA, tossed 382 strikeouts, and recorded 38 saves. He has been an All-Star three times; in 2004 with Hagerstown (Low A),in 2005 with San Jose (High A), and 2008 with Huntsville (AA).
During the 2007 Rule 5 draft, he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Triple-A phase and was assigned to their top farm club, the Nashville Sounds. Prior to the start of the season, he was reassigned to their Double-A Huntsville Stars, but was later called back to Nashville mid-season.
Bateman posted the best season of his career in 2008. In Huntsville, he appeared in 26 games (44 2/3 innings) with a 2.47 ERA. He struck out 39 batters while walking only 13. After being called up mid-season to Nashville, he appeared in 23 games, (33 2/3 innings) with a 1.60 ERA and converted all four of his save chances. He struck out 37 batters while walking only 9. Bateman finished the season on a scoreless streak spanning 20 2/3 innings. He allowed only 12 hits during the streak which spanned 15 outings.
Bateman pitched for Azucareros del Este in the Dominican Winter League in the Fall of '08. He threw 25.0 innings in 22 relief appearances. He finished 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA allowing only 19 H and 9 BB over that span. He also recorded 19 K's.
He was released by the Brewers during spring training 2009. He was then signed in late April by the Tampa Bay Rays. On May 9, he was assigned to Triple-A, Durham Bulls. In 2 years with Durham, he went 13-2 with a 2.27 ERA over 98 appearances (2 starts) with 8 saves and 130 strikeouts over 138.2 innings.
He began the 2011 season in the Oakland Athletics organization, starting off with Triple-A Sacramento before being demoted to Double-A Midland, where he was released shortly after. On July 20, Bateman re-signed with Tampa Bay, and was returned to Durham, where he finished out the season. Combined with the three teams, he went 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 45 appearances with 2 saves, striking out 60 over 73.1 innings.
Bateman spent 2012 in the independent Atlantic League, first with Bridgeport, then with Lancaster. In 52 appearances (1 start) combined, he went 3-2 with a 6.63 ERA while striking out 74 over 57 innings.
On June 23, 2013, Bateman re-signed with Bridgeport.

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