Daulton Varsho fittingly makes sensational catch in return from IL: ‘He’s the best out there’

And, in fairness, it probably should’ve been. After all, the rocket from Duran featured a 95-per-cent catch probability and wouldn’t have been a home run in any of the 30 major league ballparks, according to Baseball Savant.

But it was far from a routine play after Varsho tripped over himself while tracking the ball in centre and ultimately rolled onto the turf in front of the outfield wall. Just as the embarrassment was setting in, though, he perked up one knee, found the ball over his left shoulder and somehow made the catch.

Everyone else, meanwhile, was in disbelief over what they had just witnessed.

It’s a play that we may never see again. But if we do, chances are Varsho — who leads all big-league outfielders in defensive runs saved (76), outs above average (44) and fielding run value (48) since 2022 — will be the one to make it.

When the 28-year-old returned to the Blue Jays’ dugout after the top half of the fourth inning concluded, all he could do was smile as his teammates came up to him one by one, giving him a hard time for turning what was likely going to be a routine flyout into an early-season catch-of-the-year candidate.

“You kind of just shake your head,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters post-game, including Sportsnet’s David Singh. “He’s the best out there.”

Varsho’s case as baseball’s best defensive outfielder grew even stronger Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, albeit in a 10-2 blowout loss to the Red Sox. Still, given that this was his first game back, it’s understandable that Schneider’s initial thought as he watched his award-winning centre-fielder make another highlight-reel grab was: “Don’t fall on your shoulder.”

As Varsho said post-game, though, reinjuring his right shoulder never crossed his mind.

“Tripped myself up on turf and saw the ball closely at the end and just kind of stuck my glove out and somehow it went in,” he said. “I said a profanity word, but then I was like, ‘All right, where’s the ball?’ And just trying to do everything I can to try to catch it.”

While most of Varsho’s value stems from his elite-level defence, the Blue Jays are hoping his return can help spark an offence that has scored two runs or less in six of the previous seven games, during which they’ve dropped six of seven.

In seven rehab games — five with triple-A Buffalo and two with single-A Dunedin — before rejoining Toronto’s lineup, the left-handed-hitting outfielder went 3-for-25 (.120), recording all singles and driving in three while striking out seven times without earning a walk.

Varsho earned a walk but went hitless in four plate appearances, striking out twice during his return on Tuesday.