Daulton Varsho gave John Schneider the kind of Blue Jays injury update the club badly needed this week. Varsho resumed swinging in the cage and said his left wrist felt much better than before.
That matters because Toronto only just placed Varsho on the 10-day injured list on June 12 with left wrist inflammation, retroactive to June 10. The Blue Jays had been hoping to keep the absence short, and this is the first update that really points in that direction.
Varsho's work was still controlled. He was hitting off a tee, not facing live pitching, and he said he will continue progressing tomorrow. But for a hitter dealing with a wrist issue, simply getting the bat moving again without a setback is a real step.
That is why this feels bigger than a routine cage note. Wrist trouble can drag on, especially for a player whose value depends on quick swings, hard contact, and everyday outfield work. This is an inference based on the nature of wrist injuries for hitters and Varsho's role.
Toronto has every reason to be careful here. Varsho is one of the Blue Jays' most important defenders, and losing him affects more than one lineup spot. This is an inference based on his everyday role and the team's need to cover center-field and outfield defense.
The timing matters too. CBS reported this latest hitting session came only 4 days after Varsho landed on the IL, which helps explain why the team still believes a minimum stint is in play.
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Yimi Garcia is moving closer too
Varsho was not the only Blue Jays injury name to move forward. Yimi Garcia was set to throw an inning for Triple-A Buffalo tonight, then rejoin Toronto tomorrow so the club can determine the next step in his return plan.
That gives the Blue Jays a second positive pitching and health note on the same day. Garcia is not as central to the lineup as Varsho, but his return would still matter for a bullpen that has had its share of roster churn. This is an inference based on Garcia's role as a veteran reliever and Toronto's bullpen usage.
For Varsho, the bigger question is still how the wrist responds once the work gets harder. Tee work is a good start, but the real test comes when he faces faster machines, then game-speed swings. This is an inference based on normal hitting progression.
Still, this is the kind of update the Blue Jays wanted. The pain has eased, the swing is back in motion, and the path toward a short IL stay still looks open.
Toronto is not ready to declare anything yet. But after a few uneasy days, Daulton Varsho finally gave the Blue Jays a better sign that this wrist issue may not sideline him for long.
Do you think Daulton Varsho will be back after only a minimum IL stint?
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