New Toronto Blue Jays player once helped save a woman's life

Long before becoming a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Brett Bateman helped save the life of a complete stranger.

Bateman, who was recently acquired by the Blue Jays from the Chicago Cubs in the Kevin Gausman trade, was tucked away in a study hall back in November 2020 at the University of Minnesota.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bateman didn't know many of the students on his floor. That included Maddie Johnson, who lived just three doors down from him.

As reported by Danny Spewak of KARE 11, Bateman was studying when he heard a thud down the hall. He walked out and saw Johnson collapsed on the floor.

Johnson had woken up with shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat earlier that morning before eventually collapsing. Bateman told her to keep still as he called 9-1-1, then helped paramedics find her as quickly as possible.

As it turns out, Johnson had gone into cardiac arrest. She had to be revived twice, but ultimately wound up being alright thanks in large part to Bateman's heroics.

"For him to step up for a complete stranger and call 911, and help save my life along with medical staff was truly incredible," Johnson told KARE 11 in 2020.

Rather than bask in the accolades, Bateman instead pointed out that plenty of other students also played a massive part in helping save Johnson's life.

"I’m still shocked. It really doesn’t feel like I saved someone’s life," Bateman said.

Suffice to say, Bateman, who recorded his first MLB hit off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler just six days ago, is a player Blue Jays fans will have no trouble rooting for moving forward.