Daulton Varsho had a slow start offensively to the 2024 season, but now he is settling in nicely and helping out the Toronto Blue Jays. Before the season started, it was hoped that Varsho could bounce back at the plate following the 2023 season, in which he hit only .220. All aboard the Varsho comeback train! While he was the MLB leader in defensive runs saved last season (29), he was robbed of a Gold Glove. But offensively, more was expected from Varsho. This year, though, he’s made adjustments at the plate, and we are starting to see how they’ve been effective.
Very few big leaguers needed this HR as badly as Daulton Varsho. Maybe he gets going! pic.twitter.com/EdKUBpDrYs
— Discuss Baseball (@discussbaseball) April 12, 2024
Daulton Varsho Turning the Corner Offensively
Varsho hit home runs in back-to-back games this season, and it was exciting to see his offense come alive. He smashed a grand slam against the Colorado Rockies, which allowed the Blue Jays to beat them 5-3. Varsho also doubled leading things off, and then he eventually scored against the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. He also got on base by walking in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored again.
Of course, Varsho’s defense in the outfield is always needed. In Monday evening’s game against the Yankees, he made a fantastic catch, and the catch probability was only 55%. He hustled and made a difficult play look effortless. Varsho has made pesky plays at times to irritate his opponents, frequently robbing teams of hits.
Daulton Varsho is one of the best defensive players in baseball & maybe the biggest reason why is because his jumps make hard plays look (relatively) easy. pic.twitter.com/IEZGImTOKZ
— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) April 16, 2024
Overall, defense goes hand in hand with pitching. The Blue Jays have many talented pitchers (both starters and in the pen). If Varsho can continue to get on base and spark up the Blue Jays offense, it should silence some critics. Varsho plays with a lot of tenacity, and despite not having a lights-out amazing season offensively last season, he always gives 100 percent. When a player takes the time to make adjustments, it shows that they are willing to put in the work to improve.
Varsho Looking More Comfortable At Bat
Varsho has certainly been playing with more confidence, and he looks comfortable at the plate. There was some concern when he got off to a slow start to the season, but he’s starting to get into a consistent groove. The Yankees are a hot team, and while the Blue Jays have been projected as mediocre, they are certainly defying the odds as they have kept up with the Yankees so far this season. The Blue Jays have many athletic players on the roster, and Varsho is surely one of them. He is contributing both at the plate and in the field.
Photo Credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
