CHICAGO -- The Blue Jays got exactly what they hoped for from Daulton Varsho on Saturday.
A little defense. A little power. And a reminder of everything they had been missing.
Activated from the injured list before Saturday's game against the Cubs, Varsho made an immediate impact in Toronto's 8-6 comeback victory at Wrigley Field. He robbed Nico Hoerner of a hit with a diving catch in center field early in the game, then delivered a three-run homer in the seventh inning that sparked the Blue Jays' rally from a five-run deficit.
It did not take long for the 29-year-old to look comfortable again.
"I think just how he felt physically, hitting off the machine, hitting velo back-to-back days and not really feeling it," manager John Schneider said before the game. "Over the last four or five days, he made a lot of progress. So he's back in there."
Varsho landed on the injured list June 12, retroactive to June 10, with inflammation in his left wrist. The Blue Jays felt comfortable activating him without a Minor League rehab assignment after his rapid progress over the past week.
Saturday offered an immediate glimpse into why getting him back matters.
His diving catch in the third inning took away what appeared to be a sure single from Hoerner, while his seventh-inning homer finally gave Toronto life after the Blue Jays had been shut out through six innings.
With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. aboard and Kazuma Okamoto standing at first, Varsho launched a three-run shot to right field to cut Chicago's lead to 5-3. Toronto scored five more runs in the eighth inning to complete the comeback.
One of Toronto's key contributors before the injury, Varsho entered the day slashing .256/.331/.408 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and five stolen bases through 236 plate appearances.
His impact, however, extends beyond the batter's box.
Varsho remains an above-average defensive center fielder, and his return gives Toronto another steady presence in the middle of the diamond as the club continues a stretch of 16 consecutive games without an off-day.
Varsho's return could be the first of several reinforcements arriving in the coming days. Shane Bieber remains on track to return Monday, while Addison Barger is expected to begin facing live pitching as he works toward a rehab assignment of his own.
For one afternoon, though, Toronto got everything it needed from Varsho.
The glove showed up. The bat showed up. And so did the spark.