Daulton Varsho

Position: C
Level: High A
Affiliate: Visalia Rawhide
League: California League
Born: 07/02/1996 (Age: 27)
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 190
B/T: Left / Right
Acquired: 2nd Rd., 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (ARI)

Prospect Spotlight

Varsho’s an emerging catching prospect with offensive upside. A bat-first backstop, the big question is if he will stick at the position. If he has to move to a corner, his plus raw power profiles; he’s able to drive the ball to the pull side, showing authoritative contact straightaway and to the other field as well. Varsho’s swing is not as lofted, nor does not generate as much backspin, as many left-handed power hitters: he swings through the ball with a level swing plane, generating hard contact with plus bat speed. He’s strong enough to muscle some of those line drives out of the park, as his game power projects to be a 55-grade tool at maturity. He’s able to stay back on the ball, and shows feel to hit by drawing counts and being selective at the plate. His game contact is pull-heavy right now; Varsho will be susceptible to the shift until he uses the other field more regularly.

Despite rawness behind the dish, Varsho projects to not only stick at catcher but eventually play the position to an above-average level based on his plus athleticism and quickness. He moves incredibly well to field balls in play, and he projects to block well with continued professional experience. He’s a quiet receiver, though his instincts about when–and how–to frame are still developing. The fringy aspect of his long-term defensive profile is a below-average arm–he will need to get it to at least fringe-average (45-grade) to remain at the position. From there, quick footwork, compact release, and accurate throws could make him a playable stopper of the running game.

It’s a long-range profile given the time it takes to develop this type of profile behind the plate, but the offensive upside is great enough that Varsho’s ceiling is an above-average regular at catcher.