It's rare we get debuts this late in Spring Training.
But in the Blue Jays' win over the Orioles on Saturday, we got a few firsts. Beyond Brandon Belt's first spring game, Saturday's contest also provided an opening look at Toronto's revamped outfield defense.
Here are some notes on how the fresh outfield fared, as well as Daulton Varsho's new approach in 2023 camp and what Nate Pearson brings to camp from his offseason stint in the Dominican Winter League:
First Look At Revamped Outfield
Saturday was the first glimpse of Daulton Varsho (LF), Kevin Kiermaier (CF), and George Springer (RF) working together in Toronto's outfield. Manager John Schneider's goal for his new outfield trio?
“Every ball being caught,” he said with a chuckle.
It took a moment for things to click, as a towering fly ball blew over Varsho’s head in the second frame. But then, the rangy triumvirate flashed in full force. Varsho and Springer unloaded frozen ropes to stop advancing Baltimore runners in the early innings and Kiermaier slide across the Dunedin glass to steal an out in the fourth.
Replacing Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with Varsho and Kiermaier this offseason represents a +24 outs above average improvement in Toronto's outfield, per 2022 numbers. The moves pushed Toronto's outfield defense from below average to one of MLB's best—on paper. Schneider is hoping that boost translates from the page to the playing field this year.
“Looking forward to seeing it,” Schneider said before the game. “Not only today but the whole year, they can really go get it.”
Varsho's New Spring Routine
In the past, Daulton Varsho was the busiest man in camp.
During his three seasons with the Diamondbacks, Varsho was a part-time catcher, part-time outfielder, and full-time hitter. In Spring Training, that meant spending the first few weeks working at backstop—learning pitchers, catching 'pens, and going over gameplans. Then, with ~10 days left in camp, he'd grab the outfield glove and get out on the grass. All while getting his bat ready for big league pitching.
This year, Varsho is an outfielder only. No pitchers to learn, no bullpens to catch. The 26-year-old still has a catcher's mitt sitting in his locker, but he's not participating in the meetings and doesn't anticipate catching any of Toronto's hurlers before Opening Day.
The plan is for Varsho to be an emergency backstop only, for when 'Jansen is at DH and Kirk gets tossed,' as he puts it. The lefty slugger was a Gold Glove caliber outfielder last year, and that's where the Jays want him to stay.
“I know what I can do out there now,” Varsho said. “It’s a nice challenge to try to be the best out there.”
Pearson's Winter League Experience
Nate Pearson pitched only 15 minor-league innings last year after catching mononucleosis and suffering a lat strain. So, in the offseason, his agent went looking for extra work for the righty.
Finding a spot with Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League, Pearson had a chance to hone his curveball and ‘trial-and-error’ his way through high-leverage innings, though there wasn’t much error. The righty pitched 12 shutout innings for Licey, striking out 16 batters and allowing just five hits. Despite the constantly banging drums and chanting crowd, Pearson's game flourished at the back of the 'pen in meaningful games.
“There’s not one quiet part of the game there,” Pearson said.
In the DWL, Pearson scrapped the changeup and kept his pitch mix to just fastball, slider, and curve. He's kept that mix rolling into 2023 Spring Training, throwing his fastball 59% of the time so far, slider 30%, and curve 11%.
The strikeouts have been high, but the results mixed through a few spring outings. Pearson's allowed six hits and three runs in four innings of work, with control (four walks) remaining the biggest barrier between the righty and MLB dominance. Right now, Pearson's main goal is to stay healthy for an entire season and he'll let the high-velo fastball and tantalizing upside bring him back to the big leagues.
More must-reads: