Daulton Varsho came off the injured list and brought an offensive spark to the Toronto Blue Jays. Now, the team will be without him once again.
The Blue Jays placed Varsho on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a left hamstring strain. He left Saturday’s game against the Athletics after pulling up with a limp after hitting a third-inning double. Varsho has a grade one strain, manager John Schneider told reporters in Toronto on Sunday, and is considered week to week.
“Varsh is about as well-liked as there is probably in the game,” Schneider said. “Everyone in there is feeling for him, for sure.”
Varsho missed the first month of Toronto’s 2025 campaign as he rehabbed from offseason shoulder surgery. Without the Gold Glove outfielder, the Blue Jays’ lineup scored the fourth-fewest runs in baseball. After returning in late April, Varsho hit a team-leading eight homers. The Jays have scored the seventh-most runs in MLB since he was activated.
“He’s so valuable to us,” George Springer said. “The stuff he can do. Anytime you see that, your heart hurts for him. But you know he’ll be okay eventually. And you know, hopefully, he can just get back as quick as he can.”
The Blue Jays promoted Davis Schneider with Varsho heading to the IL before Sunday’s game against the Athletics. But replacing Varsho’s elite defence in centre will fall on Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes and Springer — the trio rotated through the position during Varsho’s early-season absence.
Straw brings elite range in the outfield, and Lukes and Springer are both having strong offensive seasons. But Varsho brought the whole package in one.
“I’m not Daulton Varsho,” Springer said. “But I will do anything I need to do to help the team.”
The Blue Jays also activated reliever Erik Swanson on Sunday, optioning left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas to Triple A. Swanson hasn’t pitched yet this season due to right median nerve entrapment.
(Photo: Cole Burston / Getty Images)
