TORONTO -- In a scene too familiar, another member of the Blue Jays left Friday’s loss to the Orioles early. This time, it was Daulton Varsho.
The Blue Jays’ center-fielder is dealing with left wrist discomfort, the club says, which was evident on two swings he took in his first at-bat of the game. On a swinging strike and foul tip, Varsho appeared to be favoring that left wrist. Prior to his next at-bat, he was replaced by Yohendrick Piñango.
“He was a little bit sore yesterday hitting, even though he wasn’t starting,” John Schneider said after the 13-3 loss. “It kind of just crept up on him a little bit when he was hitting off the machine before the game today. We just want to be extra careful with him. The X-rays are negative. I think it’s just more inflammation in his wrist. He’s dealt with it before, he said, so hopefully it’s just a day or two. We just wanted to be careful with him.”
Varsho’s typically elite defense hasn’t been jumping off the screen nearly as often this season, but he’s enjoyed a few valuable hot streaks at the plate and currently owns a .256 average and .739 OPS with five home runs. In a lineup desperate to find steady sources of power, especially until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. heats up again, Varsho is one of this club’s best bets.
The initial diagnosis doesn’t sound too worrying for the Blue Jays, but they’ll continue to evaluate Varsho heading into Game 2 of the series on Saturday against the Orioles. If Varsho only needs a day or two, the Blue Jays will have no problem weathering that with Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes both solid in center field.
If Varsho needs any more time than that, the Blue Jays could once again be forced to reach into their position player depth, which has already been tested heavily.
Other options in Triple-A:
Davis Schneider is batting just .167 in 10 games with Triple-A Buffalo, but he’s walked 20 times.
Yes, you’re reading this correctly. Schneider has 20 walks in 10 games since being optioned to Triple-A. It’s one of the wildest stat lines you’ll ever see, and while it highlights Schneider’s excellent feel for the strike zone, the Blue Jays still want to see Schneider hitting for power. Pair this plate approach with some bigger hacks on pitches in the strike zone? Then, he’ll be cooking.
Jonatan Clase is the only other outfielder on the 40-man, but he hasn’t impressed this season. Instead, No. 8 prospect RJ Schreck is the hottest name in the Bisons’ outfield and has really turned things up over the past month.
Thinking outside the obvious options here, Eloy Jiménez has signed back with the Blue Jays and is ramping up with game action at the club’s complex, so he could soon be an option again for the big league club if they choose to balance their position player roster differently.
The latest on rehabbing options:
Addison Barger (right elbow inflammation) is the main name to monitor here, but he’s not close to returning right now.
Barger is still building up his throwing and hitting at the Blue Jays’ complex in Florida, and when he’s ready for some game action, the Blue Jays will still need to see him in a good chunk of rehab games given how little he’s played this season. Barger also had an ankle injury this season, so he’s appeared in just nine games.
Lenyn Sosa is rehabbing from a right wrist contusion, also building back up by hitting at the club’s complex in Florida. Sosa wasn’t performing well at the time of the injury, but the Blue Jays have already stretched their depth thin and Varsho’s wrist issue threatens that again.