Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Daulton Varsho must have been disappointed. After a breakout 2022 season, he was traded to Toronto, a World Series contender in need of outfielders. However, he experienced a down year, the Jays were swept out of the Wild Card round, and his former team made a surprising run to the World Series with players Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who were acquired in exchange for Varsho, playing key roles.
The most concerning issue for Varsho was his own performance. While he excelled defensively and on the basepaths, his offensive struggles were evident with a .285 on-base percentage. However, the tide has turned for Varsho this year, as he is now one of the best players on a struggling Toronto offense, ranking among the top hitters on the team alongside Justin Turner and Davis Schneider.
A closer look at Varsho’s statistics reveals a significant increase in his walk rate, from 7.7% to 11.7%, without an increase in strikeouts. While this improvement is promising, there are questions about the sustainability of his performance. Despite his success, Varsho’s xwOBA has decreased this year, indicating that his results may not be entirely luck-driven.
Varsho, known for his power potential, has shown a different approach at the plate. While his exit velocity numbers may not be impressive, his ability to hit for power to the pull side has improved. By focusing on pulling the ball in the air, Varsho has found success, particularly with the changes made to the outfield in Toronto.
It’s evident that Varsho’s adjustments have paid off, as he is generating impressive results on pulled fly balls. While the sustainability of his current performance remains uncertain, Varsho’s new approach at the plate has been effective in maximizing his power potential. Time will tell if Varsho can maintain these changes and continue to excel offensively.
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