Daulton Varsho -- Prospect Evaluation

Daulton Varsho is an Arizona Diamondbacks prospect with an uncommon skill set for the catcher position. Drafted in 2017 from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the left-handed hitter has demonstrated offensive prowess with a .301 minor league batting average and .865 OPS across 509 at-bats during his first 1.5 years as a professional. What distinguishes Varsho is his athletic profile: scouts have noted his surprising speed for a catcher, with some believing he could eventually steal 20 bases at the major league level, combined with left-handed power and a compact swing. During the 2018 Arizona Fall League season, Varsho reinforced this evaluation, hitting .381 with seven stolen bases in 11 games for the Salt River Rafters. Varsho himself has acknowledged the uniqueness of his skill set, noting that other players frequently comment on his speed for a catcher. If he can successfully transition behind the plate at the major league level while maintaining his offensive production, he would represent an uncommon commodity: not merely a catcher who can hit, but one with significant power and baserunning impact.

Daulton Varsho is a prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks system tracked by Baseball Prospectus. Born July 2, 1996, Varsho is a left-handed batter standing 5'10" and weighing 207 lbs, throwing right-handed. The profile includes 2019 preseason PECOTA projections for his age-22 season, though specific projection values require site subscription access.

Varsho's minor league performance shows consistent offensive development across multiple levels. In 2017 at rookie-level Yakima (A-), he posted a .311 average with a .534 slugging percentage across 212 plate appearances, adding 7 home runs and 7 stolen bases. His 2018 season was split between Visalia (A+) and Arizona League assignments, with the bulk of his time at Visalia where he appeared in 342 plate appearances, batting .286 with a .363 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage while stealing 19 bases.

In 2019 at Double-A (SOU), Varsho appeared in 108 games with 452 plate appearances, recording a DRC+ rating of 156, indicating production approximately 56% above league average. His performance trajectory suggests above-average offensive potential as he progressed through the Diamondbacks minor league system.

The Diamondbacks farm system features several promising prospects. Catcher Daulton Varsho, 22, represents the organization's best chance at developing a frontline catcher since Miguel Montero in 2006. Before a June hamate bone injury, Varsho posted a .290 average with 8 home runs in 57 games at high Class A Visalia. Farm director Mike Bell praised his complete skill set: athleticism, explosive power, speed, and solid defensive work behind the plate. Scouts project him as a .290-hitting catcher with 15-20 home run potential, though some question his arm strength. However, evaluators believe his athleticism, quick feet, and quick release will be sufficient for above-average defense.

Righthander Emilio Vargas demonstrated a significant leap forward this season, earning renewed scout attention after previously failing to impress. The 21-year-old compiled a 1.75 ERA with 113 strikeouts over 87 innings at Visalia. Despite a fastball sitting only in the low-90s, Vargas' extension and high spin rate create effective up-in-the-zone carry generating swings and misses. He pairs this with an above-average changeup and developing breaking ball while showing improved control as the season progressed, positioning him as a potential back-end starter.

Outfielder Kristian Robinson, 17, impressed in extended spring training and began his pro career in the Arizona League rather than the Dominican Summer League. The $2.5 million signee from the Bahamas batted .278 with three doubles in his first 13 games. Reliever Tommy Eveld's velocity, diminished following offseason elbow surgery, has begun rebounding, with his slider recently reaching the low-90s range.

Daulton Varsho is a 21-year-old catching prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks currently playing for High-A Visalia. Through May 31 in 195 plate appearances, Varsho has compiled elite numbers: a .284/.379/.450 slash line with 6 home runs, 26 RBI, a 10.8% walk rate, 136 wRC+, and 14 stolen bases. Annualized over 162 games, the stolen base total would reach 52, an exceptionally rare feat for a catcher—only 11 catchers since 1950 have stolen 20+ bases in a season, with the record being 36 by John Wathan in 1982.

Varsho was drafted in the second round in 2017 from UW-Milwaukee and is ranked as Arizona's No. 4 prospect entering the season. In his first 95 professional games, he has 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases combined. At 21 years old, he is not expected to reach the major leagues until 2020, with a possible September 2019 call-up if he continues to excel.

The primary question mark surrounding Varsho is whether he can remain at catcher long-term. His defense is solid in blocking and receiving, but his throwing accuracy is a concern. The Diamondbacks believe the issue stems from release and footwork mechanics rather than arm strength, and improvements have been noted since turning professional. If Varsho develops into a league-average hitter, the organization may relocate him to left field or center field to maximize his speed and athleticism, potentially producing 20-15 type seasons in the outfield.

Daulton Varsho is a 21-year-old left-handed hitting catcher prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks, selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He is currently playing for the short-season Hillsboro Hops in the Northwest League and has performed well, posting a .311/.368/.534 slash line entering the playoffs.

Varsho hails from Chili, Wisconsin, and attended high school in Marshfield before playing collegiately at UW-Milwaukee. His family has strong baseball connections: his father Gary Varsho was a former MLB outfielder who served as bench coach for the Philadelphia Phillies during Daulton's childhood, which explains his early allegiance to the Phillies despite growing up near Milwaukee.

Varsho was named after Darren Daulton, the Hall of Fame-caliber Phillies catcher and late friend of his father. Daulton died of brain cancer in August 2017, shortly before this article's publication. Varsho expressed pride in carrying the name, stating: "I have the honor of carrying his name. And it's a great honor, because he was not only a fantastic player, he was very humble and very hardworking. That's what my parents have always wanted me to be, a very humble and very hardworking kid."

Daulton Varsho is a 5'10", 207-pound lefthanded-hitting catcher drafted 68th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017. Son of former Cubs and Pirates outfielder Gary Varsho, Daulton possesses an unusual combination of strengths and weaknesses. His primary attributes include above-average bat speed, pull power, and the rare combination of exceptional speed for a catcher position. He was rated the Best Hitter for Average in the Diamondbacks organization in both 2019 and 2020, and peaked at #1 prospect status in 2020 before ranking #2 in 2021.

However, Varsho's significant weakness is a below-average throwing arm, which limits his value at the catcher position. Despite this limitation, evaluators appreciated his receiving ability and skill at blocking pitches in the dirt. His combination of elite offensive tools and speed created speculation he could transition to left field. College performance was strong, batting .362 through 54 games in his final spring season at Wisconsin-Milwaukee before his 2020 debut.

Varsho is currently in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and was recently activated from a 10-day injured list following a left hamstring strain, with rehab assignments completed across multiple minor league affiliates.