Gus Varland

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #22 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Varland posted a 1.04 ERA as a junior at Division II Concordia-St. Paul and was drafted by the Athletics in the 14th round after the 2018 season. The Dodgers acquired him in the trade that sent Adam Kolarek to Oakland, but lost him when the Brewers selected him in the Rule 5 draft. Varland made his major league debut with the Brewers in 2023 and logged an 11.42 ERA in eight appearances, but he flourished after being returned to the Dodgers in May. Varland emerged as a dominant setup man at Triple-A Oklahoma City and posted a 3.09 ERA in eight Dodgers appearances before right knee inflammation ended his season.
  
  Scouting Report: Varland is an aggressive, hard-throwing reliever who relies on arm strength. His plus-plus, riding fastball sits 96-97 mph, touches 99, and overwhelms hitters at the top of the strike zone. He throws his fastball liberally and is not afraid to challenge hitters with it. Varland’s short, 89-91 mph slider flashes average to give him a viable secondary, but it’s extremely inconsistent and needs refinement. He also has a below-average changeup he rarely throws. Varland has an effortful delivery and fringe-average control, but he throws his fastball for strikes enough to be effective in short bursts.
  
  The Future: Varland’s arm strength gives him a chance to be a middle-to-late inning reliever if he can refine his secondaries. He’ll be in the Dodgers’ bullpen mix in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Athletics #28 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Coming out of Division III Concordia College, Varland posted a 1.04 ERA and 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings over 60 innings. Despite pitching with elbow discomfort, Varland stuff translated well to pro ball, advancing quickly to Stockton in 2019 before being shut down with in July.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Varland has made the most of deception and an advanced feel to pitch to maximize an average pitch mix. Raw boned with loose arm action, Varland has some extra length in the back, which enhances his deception and disrupts hitters' timing. The extra length has also increased the stress on his elbow and resulted in injury. When healthy, Varland works in the low 90s with a solid spin rate and an aggressive feel in the zone. He does an excellent job inducing soft contact up in the zone. Varland does well mixing his slider and generating weak contact, though the shape and sharpness of the pitch can vary due to his arm action. Varland needs further development with his changeup to increase his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Despite working as a starter, Varland projects as extra arm out of the bullpen.
• 
  Ranked Athletics #24 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Varland sliced through Division II competition as a junior, drawing notice from upper Midwest scouts with a 1.04 ERA and 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He pitched his way to low Class A Beloit in his pro debut and recorded an 0.95 ERA with 50 strikeouts and eight walks in 38 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Varland's stuff is better than his draft round would indicate. He pitched at 93 mph in his debut and maxed out near 96 and backed it up with crisp breaking stuff and an aggressive pitching style. His fastball features explosive life up in the zone thanks to a high spin rate. His slider has above-average potential and nice tilt in the mid-80s, while his fringe curveball gives him the element of surprise in the high 70s. Varland went to instructional league to develop his changeup and found a grip he likes.
  
  The Future: Varland was the breakout star of Oakland's 2018 draft and could reach Double-A by the end of his first full season. Without a knockout pitch, he profiles more as a swingman starter or reliever.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #463 prospect in 2018 draft
  Varland has been a dominant starter for Division II Concordia (Minn.) as he's blown away hitters with a 93-95 mph fastball that touches 97. Varland was 7-1, 1.04 with 79 strikeouts and 14 walks in 60.1 innings. Evaluators aren't all that thrilled with Varland's high-energy delivery, but he repeats it well and has a long track record of throwing strikes. His slider shows potential to develop into an average pitch as well, giving him a pair of potential weapons whether he sticks as a starter or moves to the bullpen. Scouts will be heading back next year as well as Gus' younger brother Louie is an equally dominating sophomore.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The A's identified Varland as a breakout candidate in 2018 when he carved up hitters (1.04 ERA in 60 innings) across three levels after being drafted in the 14th round out of Division III Concordia-St. Paul. Elbow discomfort led the A's to shut Varland down at high Class A Stockton in July 2019 and he subsequently had Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in 2020 during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Varland's high-spin fastball induces plenty of whiffs or soft contact up in the zone and he commands it well. He threw just eight innings at instructs but his velocity crept up to 94-95 mph, which is a slight bump if he can sustain it. Varland also mixes in a tight-spinning, above-average slider and a below-average changeup that could use refinement. Varland pitches with deception because of some extra arm length in his delivery, although that has also caused additional stress on his elbow. The A's worked with Varland to add more flex to his elbow upon foot strike to alleviate strain. He showed above-average control prior to surgery but has to show it has come back.
  
  THE FUTURE: The A's remain excited about Varland. He should rise to Double-A at some point in 2021 as long as he stays healthy.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Coming out of Division III Concordia College, Varland posted a 1.04 ERA and 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings over 60 innings. Despite pitching with elbow discomfort, Varland stuff translated well to pro ball, advancing quickly to Stockton in 2019 before being shut down with in July.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Varland has made the most of deception and an advanced feel to pitch to maximize an average pitch mix. Raw boned with loose arm action, Varland has some extra length in the back, which enhances his deception and disrupts hitters' timing. The extra length has also increased the stress on his elbow and resulted in injury. When healthy, Varland works in the low 90s with a solid spin rate and an aggressive feel in the zone. He does an excellent job inducing soft contact up in the zone. Varland does well mixing his slider and generating weak contact, though the shape and sharpness of the pitch can vary due to his arm action. Varland needs further development with his changeup to increase his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Despite working as a starter, Varland projects as extra arm out of the bullpen.