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Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho and the pressure that comes with a contract year
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Apr 7, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 7, 2026, 06:39 EDT
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Daulton Varsho entered 2026 with plenty to prove as an impending free agent coming off a great, albeit injury-shortened, season. 
He was excellent at the plate when healthy in 2025, and appeared to be picking up right where he left off in spring training as he tore the cover off the ball. Many assumed he would hit the ground running, but he’s been swinging an ice-cold bat since Opening Day—hardly the start anyone wanted. 
So, what’s going on with Varsho? 
He’s one of several Blue Jays struggling at the plate amid their 4-6 start. He’s mired in a 6-for-32 slump to begin the campaign (.188), with only two of those hits being for extra bases (two doubles). He’s walked twice this season compared to five strikeouts. 
The good news is that things actually look much better under the hood. Varsho’s expected batting average of .302 suggests he’s gotten a bit unlucky. His 73.4 mph bat speed is down from last year, but still above average. Most interesting, though, is how those five strikeouts represent a 13.9% K rate after he struck out at 28.4% clip last season. 
Varsho has been getting the bat on the ball fine; the issue is that he hasn’t been hitting the ball hard. His 81.0 mph average exit velocity ranks in just the second percentile among qualified hitters, and represents a near 10 mph decrease from 2025. He’s running a 4.2% barrel rate after running an elite 15.9% mark in 2025. His hard-hit rate is way down, too. 
This begs the question: is Varsho simply missing his pitches, or has he made an adjustment to try making more contact that has sapped his power?
It’s far too early to know for certain either way, but the latter would be a classic example of trying to fix something that isn’t broken. 
While Varsho has generally been his usual excellent self on defence in centre field, he did make a rare defensive miscue during Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He got caught in between on a liner hit right to him, ultimately allowing it to skip past him and roll all the way to the wall for a triple. It was truly unusual for a fielder of his calibre. 
It’s obvious that Varsho is pressing—and he’s hardly the only one trying too hard right now.
Whether he’s feeling the pressure of playing for a new contract or the weight of a whole country’s expectations, he hasn’t been the best version of himself yet.
The good news? There are 153 games left to be played, and there’s time for things to turn around for the centre fielder, who represents a main option in the outfield in what will be a weaker class this winter. 

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