With Kiermaier gone, it’s finally Daulton Varsho’s time to shine as the Blue Jays’ full-time center fielder

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho has been putting on a show for several weeks, making highlight-reel-worthy catches that defy the laws of time, gravity, and space. He’s done that while playing center and leftfield while sharing time in the middle with Kevin Kiermaier.

With Kiermaier out of the way, having been traded to the L.A. Dodgers, Varsho can show off his considerable abilities as the centerfielder for the rest of the season, and conceivably, much longer than that.

There hasn’t been a more valuable outfielder than Varsho this season, and he’ll be in the field at center for about every game for the next two months. He has achieved a dWAR of 2.3, the top mark in the majors, while having the highest fielding run value, or outs above average (+13), and the most defensive runs saved, with 23.

As impressive as those stats are, the eye test has been stunning and a joy to watch. There was his leaping, home run-saving grab off the bat of Ryan O’Hearn on May 13th, his full-speed sprint into the wall at Safeco Field to rob Luke Raley on July 5th, and then a tumbling effort to kick-start a miraculous double-play the next day. 

Varsho has split his time almost evenly between left and center fields this season, logging 404.1 innings in left and 399.2 in center. Finishing the season as the team’s primary centerfielder also might give the 28-year-old a better chance to win an elusive Gold Glove. In 2022, he was a finalist as a right fielder but lost to Mookie Betts. Last year, the former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee product was again named a finalist but lost to Steven Kwan of the Guardians.

Varsho’s main hardware competition in centerfield is Jake Meyers, Kyle Isbel, and Jose Siri. The case for “Varsh” to win the Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in his respective league is also valid. Either way, Varsho has become a must-see TV item for Jays’ fans, and considering all the turmoil and uncertainty surrounding this team, that’s something they can hold on to.