<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Toronto Blue Jays are set to get a boost to their roster as early as this weekend when outfielder Daulton Varsho re-joins the club after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old began a rehab assignment over the weekend, getting into two games with the Dunedin Blue Jays and suiting up with the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night. He continues to inch closer to returning to the big league roster, and so far, the signs are trending in the right direction.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;">Varsho was in the lineup as a designated hitter in two games, but returned to centerfield for Sunday’s contest, an encouraging sign for the 2024 Gold Glove winner. As he gets closer to the majors, it’s fair to wonder how his return will affect the lineup and crowded outfield, which has performed reasonably well so far.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Varsho’s primary position in the field will not change. He’s established himself as a premier defender, first at catcher, then in the corner and center fields, and was tied for second in MLB with 16 Outs Above Average last season while earning a Gold Glove Award.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daulton Varsho gets his first hit with The Herd!🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a></p>
<p>110.2 <a href="https://t.co/MPofF3OOJd">pic.twitter.com/MPofF3OOJd</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1915165519864308200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>George Springer has been part of the centerfield rotation with Straw and Nathan Lukes, but will return to his usual post in right field when Varsho suits up. Anthony Santander (who can also play left field) will occasionally play in one of the corner spots with both players in the DH shuffle. Expect to see Santander as the primary DH with his less-than-stellar reputation in the corners, but those two players are locks for this squad.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Myles Straw, who was traded over the winter to little fanfare given the Roki Sasaki saga, has done all he can to stick on the roster and is the next in line for time in centerfield. Known for his defensive skills, the 30-year-old captured the 2022 AL Gold Glove as a centerfielder with Cleveland and is hitting much better than expected. The former 12th-round pick is batting .282 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBIs through 18 games.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Alan Roden has acquitted himself well after being a surprise addition to the Opening Day roster. He’s logged most of his time in left field and will likely continue doing so. He’s shown instincts, taken direct paths, and flashed a strong arm early in his rookie season and owns a .203/.284/.297 slash line through 23 games.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blue Jays will make a decision Thursday on whether Daulton Varsho rejoins them this weekend in NYC or next week in Toronto.</p>
<p>Final box to check is ensuring his arm&#39;s recovering well game-to-game. Plan once he&#39;s back is to resume regular everyday role.</p>
<p>&mdash; Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArdenZwelling/status/1915165681399590953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Nathan Lukes can play all three outfield spots well, and that versatility should keep him in the big leagues. Addison Barger was promoted to Toronto when Davis Schneider was demoted and has shown a cannon-like arm in right field. His natural position is third base, and the Jays already have the Ernie Clement (righty) and Will Wagner (lefty) in a platoon at the hot corner.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Barger is the most probable casualty of Varsho’s reemergence, and there won’t be much playing time for him anyway once Varsho returns. Lukes may also be a potential casualty once Varsho is healthy, but the Jays are likely more prone to have him sit on the bench versus someone like Barger, who has potential for future at-bats and a place on this team. Manager John Schneider continues to give Roden reps in the outfield, so he seems like a safer bet to stay around, but he could be sent back down if he scuffles over the near future (depending on when Varsho returns).</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps the best thing for Barger is to receive consistent at-bats at triple-A and bide his time until the next opportunity arises, especially since he owns a 0.59 average with just one hit through 17 at-bats &#8211; an eerily similar line to his first stint with Toronto last year.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Toronto Blue Jays are set to get a boost to their roster as early as this weekend when outfielder Daulton Varsho re-joins the club after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old began a rehab assignment over the weekend, getting into two games with the Dunedin Blue Jays and suiting up with the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night. He continues to inch closer to returning to the big league roster, and so far, the signs are trending in the right direction.</p>

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<p style="font-weight: 400;">Varsho was in the lineup as a designated hitter in two games, but returned to centerfield for Sunday’s contest, an encouraging sign for the 2024 Gold Glove winner. As he gets closer to the majors, it’s fair to wonder how his return will affect the lineup and crowded outfield, which has performed reasonably well so far.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Varsho’s primary position in the field will not change. He’s established himself as a premier defender, first at catcher, then in the corner and center fields, and was tied for second in MLB with 16 Outs Above Average last season while earning a Gold Glove Award.</p>
https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1915165519864308200

George Springer has been part of the centerfield rotation with Straw and Nathan Lukes, but will return to his usual post in right field when Varsho suits up. Anthony Santander (who can also play left field) will occasionally play in one of the corner spots with both players in the DH shuffle. Expect to see Santander as the primary DH with his less-than-stellar reputation in the corners, but those two players are locks for this squad.
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Myles Straw, who was traded over the winter to little fanfare given the Roki Sasaki saga, has done all he can to stick on the roster and is the next in line for time in centerfield. Known for his defensive skills, the 30-year-old captured the 2022 AL Gold Glove as a centerfielder with Cleveland and is hitting much better than expected. The former 12th-round pick is batting .282 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBIs through 18 games.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Alan Roden has acquitted himself well after being a surprise addition to the Opening Day roster. He’s logged most of his time in left field and will likely continue doing so. He’s shown instincts, taken direct paths, and flashed a strong arm early in his rookie season and owns a .203/.284/.297 slash line through 23 games.</p>
https://twitter.com/ArdenZwelling/status/1915165681399590953
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Nathan Lukes can play all three outfield spots well, and that versatility should keep him in the big leagues. Addison Barger was promoted to Toronto when Davis Schneider was demoted and has shown a cannon-like arm in right field. His natural position is third base, and the Jays already have the Ernie Clement (righty) and Will Wagner (lefty) in a platoon at the hot corner.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Barger is the most probable casualty of Varsho’s reemergence, and there won’t be much playing time for him anyway once Varsho returns. Lukes may also be a potential casualty once Varsho is healthy, but the Jays are likely more prone to have him sit on the bench versus someone like Barger, who has potential for future at-bats and a place on this team. Manager John Schneider continues to give Roden reps in the outfield, so he seems like a safer bet to stay around, but he could be sent back down if he scuffles over the near future (depending on when Varsho returns).</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps the best thing for Barger is to receive consistent at-bats at triple-A and bide his time until the next opportunity arises, especially since he owns a 0.59 average with just one hit through 17 at-bats - an eerily similar line to his first stint with Toronto last year.</p>


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