It was a June night at the Rogers Centre, and the Toronto Blue Jays were trudging through a tough season. Wins were elusive, and positives were hard to find amid inconsistent play. But one constant bright spot shone through the challenges—Daulton Varsho. The athletic, fleet-footed outfielder was making highlight-reel plays game after game, leaving fans and manager John Schneider in awe of his talent.
After yet another night of dazzling defensive work from Varsho, Schneider ended his press conference with a bold statement that he had repeated throughout the season: “Daulton Varsho is the best outfielder in baseball.”
And on Sunday night, Schneider’s confidence in his player was affirmed on a broader stage. Varsho was named the American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner for center field, his first career honor. At 28, the Wisconsin native had finally been recognized as one of the premier defenders in Major League Baseball, a title backed up by an impressive tally of 29 defensive runs saved—the highest among all MLB players for a second consecutive year.
Varsho’s 2024 season was spent mainly in center field, with a few shifts to left, but wherever he played, his defensive stats stood out. He led the league in defensive runs saved, a testament to his exceptional range, speed, and game awareness. And he achieved this feat despite a late-season shoulder injury that sidelined him for the last few weeks. Through the setbacks, Varsho’s contributions in the outfield were as consistent as they were impactful, filling the gap left by his sometimes-struggling offense.
Since joining the Blue Jays in 2023 through a trade with Arizona, which sent outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catcher Gabriel Moreno to the Diamondbacks, Varsho has become a fixture in the Jays’ lineup. His defensive prowess has earned him the respect and admiration of teammates and fans alike. Even as he faced hurdles at the plate, his fielding ability has been indisputable, making even the toughest catches look effortless.
Varsho’s remarkable fielding skills—marked by speed, athleticism, and an unrelenting fearlessness—turned many challenging plays into routine outs. In the 2023 season, some observers felt he was overlooked for the Gold Glove Award, a sentiment echoed by his teammate, pitcher Chris Bassitt. Following the award announcement, Bassitt took to social media to express his frustration, saying, “The fact you can lead in defensive runs saved and not win a Gold Glove is our stupidity only baseball can pull off.” For Varsho’s defenders, his 2024 win feels like overdue recognition.
Pitchers throughout the league have quickly learned to appreciate Varsho’s dependability in the outfield. He’s often been described as a “pitcher’s best friend” for his game-saving plays and his ability to turn potential extra-base hits into routine outs. Now, with his first Gold Glove Award secured, Varsho has validated the faith his teammates and coaches have placed in him as a true game-changer in the field.
Looking ahead, Varsho faces a new challenge. Following his standout season, he underwent rotator cuff surgery to address lingering pain he played through during the final stretch. His recovery process is already underway, and the Jays are optimistic he’ll be back to full form by spring training. For Varsho, the offseason will be one of rest and rehabilitation, all with an eye on returning to the lineup to defend his Gold Glove status.
The Gold Glove win wasn’t handed to him easily. Varsho beat out fellow finalists Jarren Duran of the Red Sox and Jake Meyers of the Astros, two of the league’s other talented defenders. The selection process involved a voting committee of all 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team, accounting for 75% of the decision, with the SABR Defensive Index contributing the remaining 25%.
With the first of what could be many Gold Glove Awards under his belt, Varsho has further cemented his place in the Blue Jays’ legacy.
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