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Miguel Vargas pounces on opportunity

July 7, 2024 by Dodger Insider

Miguel Vargas hit a pinch-hit home run on Saturday. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Cary Osborne

It’s been a sporadic playing existence for Miguel Vargas since twice being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers since May 17.

Some days starting, some days entering a game later, others on the bench.

The ones he doesn’t start, he plays a game — like he did on Saturday.

He replicates what it would be like to be in the lineup and treats his day almost like he’s the designated hitter just in case he enters the game as a pinch-hitter.

By the time he reached the batter’s box on Saturday, it was his first official at-bat of the game. But to him, it was his fourth.

He had already gone down to the underground batting cage at Dodger Stadium three times during the game and simulated at-bats off live pitching and a machine.

“I want to feel light for when I go into the game,” Vargas says.

When he faced Milwaukee Brewers reliever Bryan Hudson in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied, he felt like he had played the entire game.

On the third pitch from the left-hander — a crossfire four-seam fastball — Vargas hit it high and deep. Brewer Christian Yelich drifted back and the 6-foot-3-inch left fielder lifted his glove, with his back against the fence, and the ball went over the wall.

Vargas’ pinch-hit home run gave the Dodgers a lead. Shohei Ohtani followed two batters later with his National League-leading 28th home run of the year. The two runs gave the Dodgers a 5–3 lead in a game that ended in that score.

https://medium.com/media/2ed6f793b0e965e0a914efa199fbea44/href

“It feels great to be ready for these types of moments,” Vargas said. “It feels great to have success.”

Vargas is now batting .349/.408/.651/1.059 in 49 plate appearances. He has appeared in 18 games this season — 12 as a starter, six as a sub (three of which have been as a pinch-hitter). This was his first career pinch-hit homer.

“I’ve been working on myself trying to get this type of opportunity,” Vargas said. “I’m grateful to have it and be successful.”

Vargas was the starting second baseman in the first half of the season in 2023, ultimately losing the job after the rookie struggled offensively. He spent the rest of the season in Triple-A. He began this season right back there and returned no longer a second baseman and no longer a third baseman — his position when he first broke into pro baseball. He returned to the Dodgers big league club a left fielder searching for opportunities.

One presented itself when Milwaukee went to the lefty Hudson against the lefty Gavin Lux. Lux gave way to Vargas.

“Very impressive,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He was ready, prepared. And even the first swing, the foul ball he was ready to hit coming off the bench. He took a ball that was really in and kept it fair and put a good swing on.

“Vargy, like I said, is just gaining confidence, more confidence each day, and he’ll be in there tomorrow, and he’s earning more opportunities, and it’s good to see.”

When Ohtani followed with his home run, it was another historic moment for a historic player.

Ohtani reached base all five times on Saturday. He walked twice, was hit by a pitch, tripled and homered. He also stole a base.

He is the first Dodger to ever have a homer, a triple, a walk, get hit by a pitch and steal a base in the same game. He’s the third Major Leaguer all time.

https://medium.com/media/25b21530222a918c2cf0c9410a2f03d1/href

Ohtani had a partner making history.

Will Smith gave the Dodgers a 2–0 lead when he homered in the first inning. He became the third Dodger to homer in four official at-bats, joining Adrián González (April 7–8, 2015) and Shawn Green (June 14–15, 2002). Smith hit three home runs and walked twice on Friday (the walks not counting as official at-bats).

https://medium.com/media/aa4703a25f23932f87ab91c213c65f9d/href


Miguel Vargas pounces on opportunity was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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