Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho Shares Injury Update Before Angels Game
The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a 10-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, led by third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. There is also an update on outfielder Daulton Varsho, who exited the April 17 game against the Diamondbacks due to left knee and quad discomfort.
Varsho missed his second straight game Sunday but offered a reassuring update on his status. Speaking with reporters, he said he expects to return soon and is trending in the right direction. "I'll probably be in the lineup Monday," he added (h/t Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). The Blue Jays remain optimistic that Varsho's injury is minor.
Daulton Varsho expects to be in lineup tonight vs Angels leads this Blue Jays notebook, plus:
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) April 20, 2026
How Day 1 third baseman Dave McKay learned he'd been picked in the expansion draft;
Joe Mantiply's return to Arizona after Dbacks release last June. https://t.co/ANWtlDZ0g6
This is encouraging news for the Blue Jays, who could soon have their elite outfielder back and some clarity about his health. Varsho's last game before the injury was not his best, as he went 0-for-1 with a strikeout, but that brief outing does not define his overall impact.
Just two seasons ago, in 2024, he delivered a strong campaign, appearing in 136 games with a .214 batting average, .293 on-base percentage, .700 OPS, 18 home runs, and 58 RBIs. This earned him a Gold Glove for his outstanding season. Although his 2025 campaign was interrupted by injuries, Varsho's skill set remains clear and highly valuable.
He is known for an exceptional range in the outfield, strong defensive instincts, and legitimate power, including 20 home runs in just 71 games in 2025. Varsho's versatility and defensive reliability make him a key contributor on both sides of the ball when healthy, giving the Blue Jays added flexibility in their lineup and outfield alignment.
Varsho has developed into a premier outfielder in the major leagues. He was selected by the Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and progressed through the minors as a catcher-outfielder hybrid. Varsho made his MLB debut on July 30, 2020, and established himself as a regular starter by the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Dec. 23, 2022, bolstering their outfield defense while adding a left-handed bat to the lineup. In January 2026, he signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal to avoid arbitration. The 29-year-old is in his final season of team control and is set to become a free agent after 2026. He remains one of MLB's top defensive outfielders, highlighted by his 2024 Gold Glove award and elite instincts.
Related: Blue Jays Make Decision Before Diamondbacks Game
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 2:58 PM.