GOTTA SEE IT: Daulton Varsho makes spectacular snag in Blue Jays return
What was Daulton Varsho thinking when what was shaping up as a routine fly ball turned into an embarrassing trip over his own feet and tumble to the Rogers Centre warning track?
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'I said a profanity word,' a sheepish Varsho said after an eventful play in his first game of the 2025 season following a long winter and spring recovering from shoulder surgery. 'But then I was like, 'all right, where's the ball?' (Then) just trying to do everything I can try to catch it.'
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And what a catch it was on Tuesday night for the Jays reigning American League Gold Glove winning centre fielder, a circus-quality grab likely destined to be highlight-reel magic for decades to come.
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A player renowned for making spectacular plays at, up and sometimes almost through the outfield wall, Varsho went from potential calamity to outrageous acrobatics in retiring Boston Red Sox leadoff hitter Jarren Duran with his fourth-inning stunner.
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Tracking the loud fly ball to the centre-field wall, Varsho tripped over his own feet, landing on his rear end. But sublime fielder that he is, Varsho kept his eye on the ball and made the back-handed snag to record the out.
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'When Varsh fell, you immediately say 'Don't fall on your shoulder,'' manager John Schneider said of the play, a rare highlight in the Jays' demoralizing 10-2 loss to the Sox. 'And then you watch him catch it, you go, 'Man, you're really good.' That was really cool. You kind of just shake your head. He's the best out there.'
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Varsho has been known for his spectacular plays throughout his career and his popular presence in the Jays clubhouse certainly was electric in his return. And the stunning play came at a welcome time for a Rogers Centre crowd of 28,045 still stunned from the five-run homer barrage already unleashed by the Bosox.
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'Obviously it's one of these plays where you're normally camped underneath it and able to catch it,' Varsho said. 'I tripped myself up on the turf and saw the ball at the end and just kind of stuck the glove out and somehow it went in.
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'It was a really high percent probability catch and I made it look really hard.'
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Starting pitcher Bowden Francis, who was rocked hard in the loss in the first of three games against the Red Sox to start this home stand was among the admirers of his teammate's prowess.
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'Crazy,' Francis said. 'It's one of those things where you're not surprised, but he's incredible out there.'
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'That was one of the best catches I've seen in my life,' said Boston's Alex Bregman, who belted one of his team's five homers. 'I wish he (didn't make the play) because it would have been a nice triple for Jarren.'
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