Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho lighting up pitchers in Spring Training, could earn a big payday in 2026

Daulton Varsho emerged as one of the Toronto Blue Jays most impactful players in 2025, even though injuries limited him to just 71 games.

When the Blue Jays acquired him ahead of the 2023 season, the move drew mixed reviews, largely because of questions surrounding his bat.

But the narrative shifted last year as Varsho consistently dazzled with Gold Glove-caliber defense while flashing the kind of raw power that can change games in an instant.

His .238/.284/.548 slash line may not have screamed superstar at first glance, yet the production beneath it told a more compelling story.

Varsho clubbed 20 home runs and drove in 55 runs in limited action, offering a glimpse of how dangerous he can be when locked in.

Even during the postseason, when he hit .227/.284/.427 across 18 games, he still made his presence felt with three homers and 12 runs scored, contributing in key moments throughout October.

If Varsho can stay on the field for a full 162-game slate and maintain the mechanical adjustments he made last year, his impact could be massive.

Projected over a full season, his 2025 home run pace would have landed him around 45 long balls — a total that would shatter his previous career high by a wide margin.

That kind of power production, paired with his elite defense in the outfield, makes him one of the most intriguing X-factors on Toronto’s roster.

The power has already been evident this spring. In one live batting practice session, newly signed reliever Tyler Rogers — known for suppressing home runs and finishing last season with the 18th-lowest home-run rate among qualified relievers — learned quickly how dangerous Varsho can be.

Just two pitches into the matchup, Varsho launched a towering drive to deep center field, sending the ball soaring beyond the fence and into the trees.

A day earlier, he had turned heads again during batting practice, peppering the right-field wall with laser line drives.

Teammates and coaches paused to watch as ball after ball cleared the fence, leaving outfielders with little more to do than track the flight into the netting.

With Bo Bichette now in New York, there’s an opening in Toronto’s offensive hierarchy.

If Varsho carries last season’s growth into 2026, he could help offset that loss — and potentially elevate the lineup to another level.

A big year wouldn’t just benefit the Blue Jays; it could also position Varsho for a significant payday as he approaches free agency in what projects to be a relatively thin market for impact bats.

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