Varsho started the 2025 season on the injured list after undergoing shoulder surgery last September.
However, when he was promoted to Triple-A to recover, he showed positive signs — especially on defense.
The former Gold Glove champion described it this way: “I feel like I’m a baseball player again.”
One of the things that’s notable is that Varsho has made adjustments to his hitting technique: instead of the traditional “toe tap,” he uses a mini leg kick, which helps synchronize his movements and control better.
As a result, he’s hitting more balls — he’s hitting a higher hard-hit rate, and his xwOBA (estimated chance of creating an opportunity) is the highest of his career early in the season.
When he returned, Varsho hit six home runs in just a few starts and has a very high slugging rate.
But experts like Jays Centre warn that it may be a “small denominator” phase: the high numbers are real, but can Varsho sustain that form?
A major weakness remains that Varsho has been worse against left-handed pitchers: over his career, he has had a significantly lower wRC+ against them.
One argument is that Varsho should improve his “squaring up” ability rather than focusing solely on power.
If he improves his attack angle and becomes more consistent in creating barrels (high velocity + good angle), Varsho could become the “complete hero”: a hard hitter and an excellent defender.
Some reports have suggested that Varsho is being “disrespected” in projections from models like Steamer — they see his defensive value plummeting after his injury, which many fans disagree with.
In addition, the Blue Jays may have a tough decision to make: prioritize Varsho’s offensive power or keep him in center field for his defensive skills?
Daulton Varsho is clearly going through a “transformation” phase: he’s overcome injuries, recalibrated his swing, and shown some serious explosive potential. But with questions about his durability and ability to hit against left fielders, the big question remains — is this “peak Varsho” or just a temporary blip? Blue Jays fans will be looking forward to finding out over the rest of the season.
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