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Toronto Blue Jays star Daulton Varsho stole all the headlines on Tuesday night with an incredible back-handed catch. His play during the game against the Boston Red Sox left 2024 All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran stunned at the Rogers Centre.
Having beaten the Red Sox three times in the first 4 game series between them, the two American League East rivals locked horns once again. The Blue Jays came into this game after losing a 3-game series against the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, the Red Sox won their 3-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.
With the Blue Jays 7-2 down, they needed something to go their way. In the top of the 4th inning, Varsho produced a piece of individual brilliance which left everyone inside the stadium stunned.
Duran would connect with the ball and hit a deep drive into the center field. At first, it seemed like a regular play as the Blue Jays raced back to the warning track.
However, he slipped up a bit as he lost his balance while running back to make the play. The 28-year-old somehow managed to take a back-handed catch. The video of this play has gone viral on social media and has gained over millions of views.
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 30, 2025
SPEECHLESS.
(via @MLB)
pic.twitter.com/zvqQwrq2yf
To make things more interesting, this was Varsho’s first start of the 2025 season. The outfielder, who is a Gold Glove winner, underwent shoulder surgery in 2024 and was on the injured list for the Blue Jays.
Daulton Varsho admits making the catch look hard following first start of 2025 season
On Tuesday, Daulton Varsho made his first official start of the 2025 season. In this, he provided a highlight moment by taking a stunning back-handed catch. Following the game, he admitted that he somehow made the catch look harder than it originally was.
As per Statcast, Varsho had a 95 percent catch probability. If he did not trip, he would have taken that catch without any fuss and it would have been a routine fly out.
I just stuck my glove out and somehow it went in. It was probably a really high percent probability of a catch and I made it look really hard.
Daulton Varsho told the reporters as per MLB.com
Daulton Varsho is so back! pic.twitter.com/paxViuvtJg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2025
Last year, Varsho won his first career Gold Glove for his performances in the outfield. He led all the other MLB outfielders with a +17 Fielding Run Value, a stat that includes all of Statcast’s individual defensive metrics together into one ranking. He also had a +16 Outs Above Average (OAA) and was tied for 5th in this category.
Blue Jays suffer massive defeat in series opener against the Red Sox
Daulton Varsho was the talk of the Toronto Blue Jays game on Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. His incredible catch in the 4th inning reminded fans of his brilliant defensive abilities. Despite his brilliance, the Blue Jays suffered a massive defeat.
At the time Varsho made that play in the 4th inning, his team was already 7-2 down. In the first inning of the game, the team gave up two home runs to Jarren Duran and Alex Bregman. The Red Sox added to their lead with solo home runs from Kristian Campbell and Rafael Devers.
A three-run home run in the third inning from Wilyer Abreu saw pitcher Bowden Francis give up 7 runs through 5 home runs. A two-run homer from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the bottom of the third inning was the only positive from the offense in this game.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 30, 2025
With the Yankees winning, the Red Sox remained 1.5 games behind their arch-rivals for the top spot in the AL East division standings. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, with a 13-16 record, are 4.5 games behind the Bronx Bombers after this loss.
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