
Louis Varland has surpassed expectations in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen. He ranks second in WAR (0.7) among MLB relievers. He is right behind the untouchable Mason Miller, who leads with a 0.9 WAR.
Varland has been the savior in the pen and has helped out teammate Jeff Hoffman, who has gotten off to a rocky start this season. Varland has displayed his value by dominating in high-leverage situations.
Across 11 games and 12.1 innings of work, Varland's dominant ERA of 0.00 has made him a standout as he hasn't given up any earned runs. He's a punchout artist who has recorded 19 strikeouts with a solid whiff rate of 31.9%.
Varland also has demonstrated elite velocity, with a 98.2 mph four-seam fastball that can reach 99-100 mph. His knuckle-curve has served as his bread-and-butter pitch.
The last component that has helped contribute to his stellar WAR has been limiting walks and generating a WHIP of 0.89. Essentially, his excellent command on the mound has made him the top reliever in the Blue Jays bullpen.
Aside from an impressive WAR, Varland also owns a stellar left on base percentage (LOB) of 72.7%, indicating his strong efforts with stranding runners in scoring position.
Varland has earned the nickname "fireman" since he is a high-leverage specialist who possesses a knack for reducing offensive momentum from hitters. Ending rallies ignited by opposing teams has been his weapon, making him a huge threat in the pen.
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