Varsho's average exit velocity has increased from 86.1 mph in 2024 to 94.1 mph this season heading into Sunday's game thanks to tweaks he made to his swing mechanics this offseason, Mitch Bannon of the Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

That's an absolutely stunning increase in how hard Varsho is hitting the ball. The center fielder was in the seventh percentile in AEV last year; this year he'd be in 95th percentile if he had enough plate appearances to qualify for the Statcast leaderboard. The added force has led to six homers and a .404 ISO through his first 14 games, and while that pace is unsustainable, Varsho seems poised to take a run at the career-high 27 home runs he slugged in 2022 despite the fact that he missed the first month of the current season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Varsho went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

The center fielder got the Blue Jays on the board in the sixth inning by swatting a Jack Flaherty fastball over the fence in left-center field, but the home team was already in a 4-0 hole at that point. Varsho has been supplying big-time power since making his belated season debut in late April, slashing .227/.265/.659 with six homers and 13 RBI in only 12 games.

Varsho is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jays have been careful not to overload Varsho since he returned from the injured list April 29, as this is his fourth day off since that date and he also missed an additional game with lower-back tightness. He should be back in the lineup Friday versus the Tigers. Myles Straw is in center field and batting eighth Thursday.

Varsho went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Varsho had a solo home run in the fourth and then a three-run blast in the eighth to put the Blue Jays ahead 7-6. Both long balls had an exit velocity over 113 mph, which were the hardest-hit balls in Varsho's career. He now has five home runs and 11 RBI in 10 games since his season debut April 29, and six of his eight hits on the season so far have gone for extra bases.

Varsho is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Since being activated from the 10-day injured list April 29 after completing his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, Varsho has yet to start in more than three consecutive games. That trend will continue Sunday, as Myles Straw gets the nod in center while Varsho rests after starting Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Over his first nine games of the season with Toronto, Varsho is slashing .194/.250/.516 with three home runs, one stolen base, seven RBI and four runs.

Varsho went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

The center fielder crushed a Connor Brogdon changeup down the right-field line for a solo shot in the eighth inning, giving Varsho his third homer in seven games since making a delayed season debut after completing his recovery from shoulder surgery. He's batting .273 (6-for-22) with one steal, four runs and six RBI. And while Jays manager John Schneider has eased him back into the lineup -- Varsho has yet to start back-to-back games in May -- the Gold Glover appears ready to handle a full workload.

Varsho (back) will start in center field and bat sixth against the Angels on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Varsho was a late scratch from the lineup Sunday due to back tightness, but a couple of days off has him ready to return to the starting nine Tuesday. Since returning from the injured list, the 28-year-old has gone 3-for-14 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored across five games.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Guardians that he's hopeful Varsho (back) will be ready to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Angels, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Varsho wasn't activated from the 10-day injured list until this past Tuesday while he needed some extra time to begin the season to complete his recovery from the right shoulder surgery he underwent last September, but it was a bout with lower-back tightness that resulted in the outfielder being scratched from the lineup Sunday. Schneider downplayed the injury after the game, noting that Varsho likely could have pushed through the back issue if needed, but the Blue Jays didn't want to take any chances with him so soon after the IL stint. An off day Monday will afford Varsho added time to heal up before the Blue Jays travel to Anaheim for a three-game set.

Varsho was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians due to lower-back tightness, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The severity of the injury isn't known, but it's an encouraging sign that he didn't aggravate his surgically repaired right shoulder, which he spent the first month-plus of the season rehabbing. Varsho should be considered day-to-day and will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the Angels.

Varsho is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

With left-hander Logan Allen on the mound for Cleveland, the lefty-swinging Varsho will take a seat, as Myles Straw gets the start in center field and will bat eighth. In three games since returning from the IL to make his season debut, Varsho is slashing .300/.462/.900 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and three walks across 13 plate appearances.