Why it won't take long for Louis Varland to become a fan favourite in Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff got much better yesterday (July 31), plain and simple. The acquisition of RHP Louis Varland at the last minute of the deadline may have been the most impactful move of the day, as he's been nothing short of lights out so far in 2025.

The monster acquisition of Varland has significantly strengthened the Blue Jays' bullpen, so much so that he’s emerged as one of, if not the most exciting and reliable, arms in the entire back-end. The Jays' front office believes in Varland's stuff to the point where they were willing to part ways with their 5th-ranked prospect, Kendrys Rojas, as well as Alan Roden.

There is a ton to love about Varland. He throws 98 mph heat, owns a 2.02 ERA this season, and is under team control until 2031... plenty of reason for Jays fans to be thrilled with this move, especially during a time where the bullpen needed reinforcements.

The 27-year-old is a beast when it comes to ground balls and limiting hard contact, shown by his elite 55.6 ground ball rate, which places him in the 94th percentile.

In 2024, he pitched to a 7.61 ERA over 49 innings with a 1.69 WHIP. His breakout came once the Twins turned him into a reliever, and he was able to focus on improving his velocity (tops out at 101 mph), while complementing it with nasty secondary pitches.

Varland relies on five pitches. His fastball and knuckle curve are used the most, while he mixes in a sinker, slider, and changeup. His fastball gets the love it deserves, but his knuckle curve, which he throws 37% of the time, is just as impressive. So far in 2025, his knuckle curve has produced a .169 batting average against and a 39.7 whiff rate, elite stuff.

Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins revealed that the team pursued Varland “very aggressively”, which is a statement that should fire up fans. In his post-trade deadline press conference, Atkins added that he owns one of the best fastballs and curveballs that you’ll find anywhere in the league.

Atkins pivoted to the idea of Varland being a starting pitching option down the line. "We're open to that, but want to explore that with him. Want to get to know him on a personal level."

The addition of Seranthony Dominguez, Shane Bieber, and Varland has instantly bolstered the Jays' pitching staff during a time when it was much needed. Louis Varland's stuff is so fun to watch to the point where he could easily become a fan favourite in Toronto.