$Signed a one-year, $5.65 million contract with the Blue Jays in January of 2024.
2024 MLB Game Log
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
vs Right-Handed Pitchers
vs RHP
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
vs Left-Handed Pitchers
vs LHP
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
Left/Right Batting Splits
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Since 2022vs Left |
.649 | 289 | 2 | 24 | .256 | ||||
|
Since 2022vs Right |
.730 | 1080 | 55 | 141 | .216 | ||||
|
2024vs Left |
.744 | 43 | 1 | 4 | .263 | ||||
|
2024vs Right |
.727 | 155 | 9 | 26 | .188 | ||||
|
2023vs Left |
.722 | 117 | 0 | 7 | .292 | ||||
|
2023vs Right |
.662 | 463 | 20 | 54 | .202 | ||||
|
2022vs Left |
.553 | 129 | 1 | 13 | .221 | ||||
|
2022vs Right |
.801 | 462 | 26 | 61 | .240 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Since 2022Home |
.656 | 635 | 24 | 71 | .201 | ||||
|
Since 2022Away |
.762 | 734 | 33 | 94 | .244 | ||||
|
2024Home |
.776 | 83 | 5 | 16 | .203 | ||||
|
2024Away |
.698 | 115 | 5 | 14 | .206 | ||||
|
2023Home |
.576 | 272 | 8 | 23 | .181 | ||||
|
2023Away |
.761 | 308 | 12 | 38 | .254 | ||||
|
2022Home |
.698 | 280 | 11 | 32 | .221 | ||||
|
2022Away |
.786 | 311 | 16 | 42 | .248 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season’s data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
Prospect Rankings History
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
On the strength of 27 homers and 16 steals, Varsho finished as the No. 2 catcher in 5×5 roto leagues last season. His .235 average dragged him behind the Phillies’ JT Realmuto, but regardless it was an incredibly impressive campaign, and most importantly for our purposes, he maintains catcher eligibility entering 2023 (31 appearances, 18 starts behind the plate). There is some frigid blue on his Statcast page, so perhaps he will continue to struggle to hit for average, but the power-speed combination from the catcher position makes Varsho a valuable asset in the rotisserie game. Being traded to the Blue Jays should only benefit Varsho’s production, as the better lineup around him should only increase his chances for runs and RBI. Rogers Centre is also slightly more friendly to hitters compared to Chase Field in Arizona. As good of a young player as he is, those playing in one-catcher leagues and/or points leagues should beware not to overrate Varsho based on where he ranks on two-catcher, roto cheat sheets.
Varsho finished the season with a modest .246/.318/.437 line, but it’s his 290/.349/.530 mark with five steals in five tries after the break that has everyone’s attention. Well, that and catcher eligibility with the defensive chops to play the outfield. Last season, Varsho squatted 41 times while he shagged flies in 49. As a hitter, Varsho combined good plate skills (21.3 K% and 9.5 BB%) with 84th percentile sprint speed. After registering a 90.3 mph average exit velocity on flyballs over the first half, Varsho muscled it up to 93.1 mph after the break. With Carson Kelly handling the bulk of backstop duties, Varsho will be the primary backup. However, there are pathways to playing time in center and right field. Even if he only plays four or five times a week, Varsho has the potential to be a top-5 fantasy catcher with five-category potential, and he’s being drafted as such.
Varsho debuted with a disappointing .188/.287/.366 line across 115 PA in 2020. However, that has done little to dim his shine, and that’s because Varsho brings to the table a unique combination of skills for a player who was primarily a catcher throughout his time in the minor leagues and is still catcher-eligible in most fantasy leagues (10 appearances in 2020). Most notably, Varsho can run with 86th percentile sprint speed which he is not afraid to use on the basepaths. He stole 40 bases in the minors from 2018-19 (188 games) and was 3-for-4 on steal attempts in 2020. Varsho also has legitimate power, even if that was missing in his first taste of the majors. Still only 24, Varsho is not going to be the primary catcher in Arizona in 2021, but he can move around and even play center field capably. Expect the team to take advantage of that versatility and get Varsho into the lineup more often than not.
The dream of a legitimate five-category catcher is alive and well with Varsho, who has 30 home runs and 40 steals (on 48 attempts) in 191 games over the past two seasons. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he does not look like a candidate for that kind of production, but he is a 55-grade runner with great instincts on the bases. His plus hit tool is what will get him to the majors — he uses the whole field and rarely strikes out. Behind the plate, he is a good receiver, but his arm is below average for the position. Varsho has seen reps in the outfield, and is unlikely to be a full-time catcher at the highest level, but could get enough starts there to retain eligibility in most formats. He tore an ankle ligament playing in Japan this offseason and may not be ready for the start of spring training. Varsho will spend at least a couple months at Triple-A and could make his MLB debut this summer.
One of the most unique catching prospects in recent memory, Varsho could steal 20-plus bases while playing in the field on days he does not catch. Despite his stocky 5-foot-10, 190-pound build, he is a good athlete and above-average runner (34-for-43 on SB attempts in 151 career games, including the Arizona Fall League). His 31.5 IFFB% was the sixth-worst mark in the Cal League and his 50.9 Pull% was the 10th highest mark — indicators that suggest he may struggle to hit much better than .250 in the big leagues. A broken hand cost him six weeks in the middle of the season, but he made up for lost time by going to the AFL, where he logged an impressive 14:12 K:BB in 18 games. Evaluators have speculated that Varsho could handle second base and the outfield in addition to catching, but Arizona has understandably kept him behind the dish for now. It is possible he could develop into a 20/20 catcher, but his home run output may fall short of that.
Varsho was selected from a small school in the Midwest (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) with the No. 68 overall pick in last year’s draft, and while questions about his defense behind the plate remain, his bat stole the show in his pro debut. He was the best hitter in the Northwest League (150 wRC+) and belted seven home runs — seven more than older teammate Pavin Smith, who was selected with the seventh overall pick in the same draft. At 5-foot-10 and with a fringe-average arm, Varsho may not stick at catcher, but unlike most catching prospects, his above-average speed allows him to profile in left field and perhaps even at second base. His bat might even be special enough that he is moved out from behind the plate strictly to maximize his offensive upside, a la Bryce Harper and Wil Myers. Varsho has an excellent feel at the plate, striking out just 14.2 percent of the time (sixth best in the NWL). He has 20-20 potential and has the potential to move very quickly, especially if he switches positions.
