Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho to make season debut vs Red Sox after being activated off IL

By Canadian Press on April 29, 2025.

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays activated Daulton Varsho off the injured list, and the Gold Glove outfielder will make his season debut against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Varsho was activated hours before Tuesday’s game. The 28-year-old started the season year on the IL while recovering from right shoulder surgery in September.

Varsho had limited expectations for his first game of the season.

“Just be myself,” Varsho said. “Don’t try to do too much and just be yourself and go out there and play.”

Varsho hit .214 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs last season, when he won his first Gold Glove.

Varsho recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. He is starting his third season in Toronto after being traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Blue Jays in December 2022 for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno.

He’s a career .225 hitter with a .414 slugging percentage and 79 home runs over five seasons in Arizona and Toronto.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider had Varsho batting sixth against Boston and playing center field. Veteran outfielder George Springer will be the Blue Jays’ designated hitter.

“It puts George in a better mood. I think he’s happier than Varsh,” Schneider joked about Varsho’s return. “I think everyone knows him, likes it and appreciates his game.

“It makes your lineup better, it makes your defence better, just having his personality here is huge.”

Toronto also activated right-handed pitcher Casey Lawrence a day after claiming him off waivers from Seattle. Right-hander Paxton Schultz and infielder Will Wagner were optioned to Buffalo in corresponding moves.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer threw off the mound as he works toward a return from a troublesome thumb inflammation.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Associated Press