On a Thursday that marked the July 31 trade deadline, Louie Varland faced an unexpected turn of events as he learned he was being traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old pitcher, who was drafted by the Twins in the 15th round, had been a key part of the team, transitioning from a starting pitcher to a proven reliever.
“The trade caught me off guard,” Varland remarked in a phone interview. “But it all happened for a reason. I kept telling myself that and trusted it. At the end of the day, it’s what happened. You can either be sad about it or look at it with an optimistic view, and that’s what I did.”
Despite the initial shock, Varland adapted swiftly to his new team and now finds himself on the brink of a World Series title. The Blue Jays are on a quest for their first championship since 1993. They stand in the way of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are attempting to repeat as champions.
Varland has been a critical asset during the playoffs, appearing in 10 of Toronto’s 11 postseason games, making him the most frequently used reliever in the bullpen. Notably, he pitched in six of the seven games during the American League Championship Series against Seattle. His performance has included a 3.27 earned-run average with 13 strikeouts over 11 innings, though he has conceded four runs, all via home runs.
Throughout the postseason, Varland has faced varying situations, sometimes starting a bullpen game or entering in the late innings to secure important outs. He cited pitching against the New York Yankees as the apex of pressure he has encountered thus far.
“It’s been just crazy, fun, extremely exciting,” said Varland. “We’re still playing baseball. It’s October 22 now. I’m not used to it, that’s for sure.”
Having made a brief playoff appearance with the Twins earlier in the 2023 season, Varland experienced the ups and downs of transitioning between the majors and minors. His journey culminated in a standout season, finishing with a 2.02 earned-run average over 51 games before being traded. With the World Series upon him, Varland expresses gratitude for the opportunity he has, emphasizing that he never envisioned pitching in such a prestigious setting.
“I’m blessed to be in this position,” Varland reflected. “It’s been a crazy, fun ride. I never thought I’d be pitching in the World Series, but here we are.” This positive outlook and determination may very well play a pivotal role in Toronto’s hopes for championship glory.