Two UWM alums made their mark in major league baseball this week.
On Tuesday, Daulton Varsho made one of the more spectacular, if unorthodox, catches of the year in center field for the Toronto Blue Jays.
And on Wednesday, A.J. Blubaugh made his major league debut for the Houston Astros, becoming the second UWM baseball player to play in the major leagues after Varsho.
Varsho’s catch came in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox, when Jarren Duran sent a line drive to deep center field. Varsho sprinted toward the outfield wall, then tumbled to the warning track as he turned back to the ball. As he staggered to his feet, he spotted the ball coming down and reached out to backhand the catch. You just have to see it to believe it.
Varsho was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 after three years at UWM. He became the first UWM player to make the majors in 2020 and was traded to Toronto in 2023. A remarkable athlete, he switched positions from catcher to outfield, and won a Gold Glove Award last year, signifying he was the best defender in the American League at his position. (Coincidentally, he beat out Duran for the award.)
Blubaugh finally gets the call
Blubaugh was drafted by the Astros in 2022 after pitching for UWM for three years. He worked his way up through the minor leagues to become a top prospect last year, on the cusp of a major league call-up. That finally happened on Wednesday, when he was summoned to start a game against the Detroit Tigers. Beset by some shaky defense behind him, Blubaugh gave up seven runs in four innings, including a grand slam by Javier Baez, but only two runs were earned.
For Blubaugh, it was a dream come true.
“It’s been a whirlwind, for sure,” Blubaugh told the Houston Chronicle after the game. “Just a lot of support from people back home in Bellville, people in Milwaukee from college, and even a lot of teammates I have now. A lot of support, a lot of love, a lot of prayers. I could feel them out there today.”
“…I’m proud of the way I handled myself, proud of the team for picking me up when I was down. I’m just so happy. This is a day I’ve been dreaming of. It’s not the end goal, but it’s a good step in the right direction.”
