Varsho (shoulder) went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
While the Blue Jays still aren't sure if Varsho will be ready to handle defensive duties by Opening Day, the 28-year-old is doing everything he can to convince the team his bat needs to be in the lineup, even if it's at DH. He's gone yard in back-to-back games after taking Cade Povich deep for a two-run shot in the fifth inning Thursday, and through seven appearances this spring Varsho is batting .350 (7-for-20) with a double, a triple and four home runs. He's on schedule with his throwing progression with two weeks to go ahead of Toronto's season opener, so there's still a good chance the Gold Glove center fielder will be in his usual spot March 27 against Baltimore.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Could be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) threw out to around 105 feet Thursday and could be cleared to play the outfield by the time the Blue Jays open their season March 27 versus the Orioles, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
After he underwent surgery on his right shoulder Sept. 23, Varsho's availability for the start of the 2025 season appeared to be in peril, but the 28-year-old appears to be progressing well in his recovery. Though he hasn't yet been cleared to resume playing the outfield, Varsho has been able to stay on track with his normal spring hitting progression by serving as a designated hitter in six Grapefruit League games and going 5-for-16 with three home runs. A reigning Gold Glove Award winner, Varsho brings a good amount of his value in center field, but the Blue Jays could be open to deploying him as a DH to begin the season if he needs a little extra time to complete his throwing program.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Shoulder feeling better
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider played catch with Varsho (shoulder) from 90-to-100 feet Sunday and said it was "probably the best" the 28-year-old has felt, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Varsho will continue to extend the distances of his throwing as he works his way back from right shoulder surgery. The Blue Jays have not ruled Varsho out for Opening Day, although it's unclear whether he would be ready to play the outfield by then. He's looked good at the plate this spring as a designated hitter, going 4-for-13 with two home runs and a 1:3 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Goes yard again Sunday
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
He lofted a Taijuan Walker offering over the right-field fence in the first inning, giving Varsho his second long ball of the spring. The 28-year-old has been limited to DH duties so far as he completes his recovery from shoulder surgery, but he's homered in each of his first two Grapefruit League appearances and has been optimistic he'll be able to avoid an IL stint to begin the regular season.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Not ruling self out for Opening Day
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) said Friday that it's "TBD" as to whether he will be ready for Opening Day, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider implied at the beginning of camp that he expected the outfielder to need some time on the injured list to start the season. However, Varsho isn't ruling out completing his recovery from September rotator cuff surgery in time to avoid an IL stint. The 28-year-old hit a home run out of the designated-hitter spot Friday in his Grapefruit League debut, and it's possible Toronto will consider carrying him on its Opening Day roster even if he's only available as a DH initially. Varsho recently extended his throwing distance to 120 feet, and the next step in his rehab is to start throwing over 80 miles per hour with regularity.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Cleared for spring debut
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) will make his Grapefruit League debut at designated hitter Friday versus the Yankees, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Recovering from last September's right rotator cuff surgery, Varsho has extended his throwing distance to 120 feet and continues to shag flyballs and hit as he normally would. It's not clear when he might be cleared to play defense in a spring game. Varsho has been ruled out for Opening Day but could be looking at a relatively brief absence to begin the season.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Could make spring debut Friday
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) could make his Grapefruit League debut as a designated hitter as soon as Friday, MLB.com reports.
Varsho has been facing live pitching and taking batting practice with no issues but has not yet been cleared to throw at full effort as he works his way back from last September's right rotator cuff surgery. The 28-year-old is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but getting into a spring game before the end of February, even if it's just as a hitter, would be a good sign for his recovery.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Hitting, throwing long toss
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Varsho (shoulder) has been able to resume hitting and throwing from 90 feet, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
While Varsho is coming along as expected in his recovery from shoulder surgery, Schneider noted that the Blue Jays are still anticipating that the 28-year-old will miss time to begin the season. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Schneider mentioned Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Jonatan Clase and George Springer as candidates to see reps in center field until Varsho is ready to make his season debut.
Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Settles at $8.2 million
Rotowire
Varsho (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Varsho is still recovering from the right rotator cuff surgery he underwent in late September, and while he hasn't fallen behind in his recovery process, there's still a good chance he will miss the first portion of the new season. The 28-year-old slashed .214/.293/.407 with 18 home runs, 50 RBI and 10 stolen bases over 136 games in 2024 and still has one more year of arbitration eligibility.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Tuesday that expecting Varsho (shoulder) to be ready for Opening Day "could be unrealistic," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Atkins noted that Varsho isn't behind schedule in his recovery after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in late September. However, manager John Schneider's original prediction of Varsho being close to full participation for the start of spring training no longer seems likely. A clearer picture regarding the 28-year-old's timeline will emerge as the new season approaches.
The Blue Jays transferred Varsho (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
The procedural move freed up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Orelvis Martinez, who has been reinstated from his 80-game suspension and optioned to the minors. Varsho underwent right rotator cuff surgery Monday and will look to make a full recovery in advance of spring training.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: May be available for start of spring
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Varsho (shoulder) is expected to be close to a full participant for the start of spring training, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Varsho underwent surgery on his right shoulder Monday, and though the extent of the procedure wasn't known at the time, the Blue Jays indicated that the 28-year-old required a standard rotator cuff repair, with no other damage being detected. While the lack of additional damage to his shoulder qualifies as good news for Varsho, he could still face a tight window to gain full clearance by the time position players report to camp in the second half of February. Any setbacks in the rehab process over the winter could put Varsho at risk of opening the 2025 season on the injured list.
