Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho insists New York botched recent replay controversy

If you had a nickel for the number of times the Toronto Blue Jays were on the receiving end of a controversial replay review in the past week, you’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right? 

As this past Sunday afternoon provided a champagne celebration after the Blue Jays became the first American League team this season to punch their ticket to the postseason, it was nearly overshadowed by another horrendous call.

Daulton caught it...just ask him

In the top of the fifth inning, Royals’ first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino hit a ball to center field, which led to an incredible diving stop from Daulton Varsho. However, the umpires deemed he trapped the ball, which allowed the play to continue. Blue Jays manager John Schneider challenged the play after noticing in slow motion that the ball landed cleanly in Varsho’s glove.

Instead, the replay review in New York upheld the umpires’ decision, and Pasquatino made it to first base.

In the middle of the clubhouse celebration, Varsho was asked if he caught the ball. The 2024 Gold Glove award recipient gave the only clear-cut answer he knew. 

A second replay review botch to the same team in less than a week is not a great look on Major League Baseball

It’s already one thing for a replay review to go completely south and draw the ire of fans across the league. But, for a second instant to happen in the same week against the same team? Even worse.

Tuesday night’s “it’s fan interference, but would’ve been a home run anyway” may ring in the minds of Blue Jays fans for years to come. It’s also not ideal to have the call on the field from the replay official, in a sense, contradicting what’s stated in the MLB rulebook.

"“In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed where the umpire determines they would have been without the interference. When a spectator clearly prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball by reaching onto the field of play, the batter shall be ruled out. But no interference is called if a spectator comes in contact with a batted or thrown ball without reaching onto the field of play — even if a fielder might have caught the ball had the spectator not been there.”"

MLB Rules Section 6.01(e) (Rule 6.01(e))

Nonetheless, after this past week, it’s very safe to begin to question the integrity of the replay review, when the purpose of its introduction is to eliminate the doubt on plays too hard to tell with the naked eye. 

The Blue Jays continue to look ahead to their final homestand of the 2025 season. They see the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays and hope to celebrate their first division championship since 2015.