Creating damage is helping Daulton Varsho return to form

"It was tough sledding out of the gate, as the left-handed-hitting outfielder slumped to a .236/.314/.390 slash line with just four home runs, nine RBIs and a 96 wRC+ (100 league average) across his first 36 games, spanning 137 plate appearances through May 8. But since then, his bat has awoken, slashing .353/.405/.559 with four extra-base hits - including last week's walk-off grand slam in extra innings - and six RBIs over his last nine games, featuring a 171 wRC+."

"Varsho's most recent home run, an opposite-field shot that remains his lone round-tripper since April 30 in Minnesota, may be an indicator that better days are ahead. Those were the types of damage swings we saw from him when he was healthy last year - leading to 20 home runs and a career-high .548 SLG in fewer than 300 plate appearances - and throughout spring training a few months ago."

"When he's hitting balls with authority the other way, that's when you know his swing is in a "good" place, manager John Schneider noted following last Wednesday's comeback win over the Tampa Bay Rays."

"For Varsho to be at his most dangerous, there still needs to be plenty of pull-side power to his approach, as evidenced by last season's career-high 29.5 per cent pull air rate (includes non-groundballs). And he has a long way to go to improve this year's clip, which h"

Toronto’s early offensive issues stem from injuries to key hitters and underperformance from players who stayed healthy. Daulton Varsho, previously injury-prone, began 2026 healthy but produced a .236/.314/.390 line with four home runs, nine RBIs, and a 96 wRC+ through 36 games. After May 8, his hitting improved sharply, posting .353/.405/.559 with extra-base production, including a walk-off grand slam and six RBIs in his last nine games, along with a 171 wRC+. His lone home run since April 30 came as an opposite-field shot, aligning with his healthier 2025 profile and spring training signs. Pull-side power remains important for maximum impact.

Read at BlueJaysNation