Could the Blue Jays’ schedule dictate whether this player starts the season on the IL?

This spring, Daulton Varsho has showcased the kind of power that Blue Jays’ fans have been dreaming about since the team acquired in 2022. 

But there’s only one problem. 

He might not be ready for Opening Day. 

I know that sounds weird considering his four home runs are tied for the third most this spring. But he’s only been limited to just playing designated hitter as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. 

And, according to new comments from manager John Schneider, it seems like the Blue Jays wouldn’t want to open camp with Varsho only serving as DH.

Could the Blue Jays’ schedule result in Daulton Varsho opening the season on the injured list? 

In speaking with reporters over the weekend, Schneider threw cold water over the idea of Varsho starting the season exclusively as a designated hitter. 

 "You never want to say, ‘No,’ but I think right now that wouldn't be the best for him or us," Schneider said of Varsho DHing, per Sportsnets’ David Singh. "I've had conversations with him about that. I would say right now that might be a little bit unlikely. Just trying to gauge where his arm is but I think we want to keep our options open in terms of who is occupying that spot."

Another factor that could impact how Varsho starts the season is the Blue Jays’ season. Toronto has just one off day in its first 20 games, and the Blue Jays will likely want to cycle different players through DH as an ability to get them off their feet. 

Although Varsho has been able to throw from 120 feet, he still needs to check some boxes when it comes to velocity, per Singh. If Varsho starts the season on the injured list, he’d likely stay behind at Toronto’s player development complex in Florida for a couple weeks to check those boxes. 

Luckily for the Blue Jays, Varsho seems to be at peace with the decision to stay behind. 

"If it's better for the team to have me start down here and just basically get my arm ready and know that when I can come up there, I'm the full-time centerfielder and playing every day, that might make the most sense," Varsho told Singh.

If Varsho isn’t able to break camp with the Blue Jays, Myles Straw could be called upon as an obvious replacement, as he plays Gold Glove level defense in center field and is putting together a good spring. 

It also shouldn’t come as a surprise that Varsho’s still been hitting the ball well this spring despite having the injury. Bryce Harper earned MVP votes in 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, while Shohei Ohtani put together a 50/50 season the season after undergoing Tommy John. 

But Varsho’s injury is nowhere near as bad as Tommy John. He’s still able to throw and is coming off a Gold Glove season, so he’s just as valuable in the field as he is in the batter’s box. 

And he's proving how valuable he is in the batter's box. Along with those four home runs, Varsho's slashing .364/.423/1.045 and has scored six runs and walked three times.

He also seems primed to have a breakout season, so it would be smart to slow-play his recovery just to make sure he’s fully healthy before starting his season. And if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Jays also have plenty of players who could fill in for Varsho in a pinch. 

Varsho will likely have a huge impact on the Blue Jays’ season this year. 

It just might not be on Opening Day.