WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks men's baseball program will see another student-athlete take the next step in his playing career as third baseman Lucas Bateman has signed with the Brantford Red Sox of the Canadian Baseball League (CBL) for the upcoming season.

The 24-year-old from Waterloo, Ont. is coming off a strong rookie campaign with Laurier that saw him named the team's rookie of the year while emerging as one of the top offensive contributors in the Ontario University Athletics.

Bateman appeared in 18 games, posting a .296 batting average with 16 hits, two home runs and a league-leading 18 RBIs. His RBI total topped the conference, while his home run mark was tied for first, and his 12 runs scored ranked among the team leaders.

A Bachelor of Education student-athlete, Bateman joined the Golden Hawks after completing his undergraduate degree at Rochester University, where he spent four seasons as a catcher with the Wolverines in the NAIA ranks. His transition to Laurier saw him take on a versatile role, contributing at catcher, second base and third base throughout the season.

Bateman is also returning for his second season with Brantford after gaining valuable experience with the club last summer. In 2025, he appeared in 36 games, collecting 33 hits and scoring 21 runs while adding 12 RBIs. He also drew 11 walks and stole eight bases, finishing the season with a .248 batting average as the team narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.

"I'm excited to be returning to the Red Sox for another season," Bateman said. "Last season helped me strengthen my game heading into my first year at Laurier, and my rookie OUA season gave me a strong foundation for continued success. I'm looking forward to improving in my second full year."

Despite being new to the program, Bateman quickly established himself as a reliable presence both offensively and defensively.

"Lucas has fit in with the team seamlessly during his first season with the program, leading in offensive and defensive categories," Laurier associate head coach Rob Hepplewhite said.

"His versatility to excel in multiple positions only enhanced our roster. He makes those around him better and sets the standard for on-field performance."

The Red Sox open their regular season schedule on the road against the Welland Jackfish on May 15.