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The impact of Varsho and Wagner injuries on the Blue Jays
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    The impact of Varsho and Wagner injuries on the Blue Jays

    ARLINGTON, Texas — While Bo Bichette returned to action Tuesday night, two other Blue Jays had their seasons end prematurely due to injury.

    Centre fielder Daulton Varsho will have rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder, while infielder Will Wagner is en route to Cleveland, where he’ll visit a specialist to determine the severity of the left knee inflammation that’s been bothering him in recent months.

    Varsho had previously been described as day-to-day, so the news comes as a something of a surprise, but he and the Blue Jays chose to have the procedure done after meeting with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas Monday. Ideally, repairing a small tear now will prevent Varsho from having to manage the issue in the future.

    He’s expected to recover over the winter and participate in spring training 2025, with next steps beyond that to be determined later.

    “We’ll see how it goes and what the recovery time is like,” said manager John Schneider. “Most likely, it could bleed into next spring a little bit.”

    With that in mind, it’s possible the recovery window could extend past opening day 2025, in which case the Blue Jays would be relying on someone like Joey Loperfido or Nathan Lukes in centre field on a temporary basis. While both have played the position in Varsho’s absence, no one can fill in for the game’s best defensive outfielder. 

    Playing left and centre field this year, Varsho is +17 in fielding run value as measured by Baseball Savant — the most defensive contributions of any player except Giants catcher Patrick Bailey. And while Varsho’s range is his biggest asset, throwing is an essential part of any outfielder’s game.

    As for Wagner, he’s been dealing with knee inflammation for a while, dating back to before the July 30 trade that brought him to Toronto along with Loperfido and right-hander Jake Bloss. Knowing that his knee was less than 100 per cent, the Blue Jays have attempted to manage his workload carefully.

    The results were impressive — Wagner hit .305 with a .788 OPS in 24 games — but with just two weeks remaining in the season, the team placed him on the 60-day injured list, officially ending his year.

    “He made a real impression, obviously, and we’re excited about him going forward as part of this,” Schneider said. “We expect a normal off-season for him.” 

    Later this week, the Blue Jays expect to know more about Wagner’s next steps, but the current expectation is that he’ll be ready for a full spring training next year. Lots could change over the course of the off-season, but based on the current depth chart he’s positioned well to earn a significant share of the second base job.

    In the meantime, the likes of Leo Jimenez and Davis Schneider are likely to see regular playing time at second for the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, Spencer Horwitz, whose reps at second had slowed down since the trade for Wagner, was spotted taking ground balls there before Tuesday’s game.

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    The Toronto Blue Jays have been dealt a significant blow with the recent injuries to catchers Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen. Kirk suffered a left hip flexor injury while Jansen sustained a right hamstring strain, leaving the team without their top two catchers for an extended period of time.

    Kirk, who was hitting .225 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 26 games this season, has been a key contributor to the Blue Jays’ lineup. His ability to hit for power and drive in runs from the catcher position has been invaluable to the team. In addition, Kirk has shown promise behind the plate, handling the pitching staff well and providing solid defense.

    On the other hand, Jansen has struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .183 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 23 games. However, his defense and game-calling skills have been praised by the pitching staff, making him a valuable asset behind the plate.

    With both Kirk and Jansen sidelined, the Blue Jays will have to rely on their depth at the catcher position. Reese McGuire, who has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo, will likely see an increase in playing time. McGuire is known for his defensive prowess and could provide stability behind the plate while Kirk and Jansen recover.

    The injuries to Kirk and Jansen come at a crucial time for the Blue Jays, who are currently in the midst of a tight playoff race in the American League East. The team will need to find ways to overcome the loss of their top two catchers and continue to compete at a high level.

    Overall, the impact of Varsho and Wagner injuries on the Blue Jays cannot be understated. The team will need to adjust their lineup and game plan in order to compensate for the absence of two key players. It will be interesting to see how the Blue Jays respond to this adversity and whether they can maintain their position in the playoff race.