CLEVELAND — Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas hadn’t given the possibility of being an All-Star a ton of thought.
“That’s something I obviously want to reach, it’s something everybody wants to do,” Vargas said Sunday at Rate Field. “But I think as a team we’ve been playing really good and we’ve got bigger goals than that.
“I’m not a selfish guy, so I want to focus and end this half really strong and see how it takes for the second half too.”
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Vargas has played a major role in the team’s success, leading to the All-Star buzz. Rosters for the event will be announced Saturday night. The All-Star Game is July 14 in Philadelphia.
The Sox last had more than one All-Star in 2022, when shortstop Tim Anderson and reliever Liam Hendriks were named to the game at Dodger Stadium. They have multiple players under consideration this year.
That includes Vargas, who is in the running to become the first Sox third baseman to make the All-Star team since Joe Crede in 2008.
“He’s been so consistent,” manager Will Venable said Monday in Baltimore. “Last year we saw it in flashes, we saw him in some stretches that lasted a little longer. But just wasn’t able to really maintain it. That’s what’s been impressive, the work he put in the offseason to give him that strength to be just consistent through these stretches.
“He plays every day and he’s running hard every day, he’s getting on base every day. And he just hasn’t stopped. Got to continue to be mindful of where he’s at physically, but he’s put himself in a really good spot to just be consistent and just really not have those ups and downs at the plate.”
Vargas entered Friday ranked first among major-league third basemen in runs (57), tied for second in home runs (19) and third in RBIs (52), OPS (.839), slugging (.484) and weighted runs created plus (133).
“Just trying to be consistent with my workout, my preparation,” Vargas said. “I have been learning a lot from previous years and just trying to be consistent every day and give myself and my body the best opportunity every night and every day to be the best version of me every day.
“I’m just trying to be better every single day and have fun every day. I think this group of guys have been bringing a lot of energy and joy to the clubhouse and for me, I just want to be part of it and enjoy the game.”
The Sox haven’t had a homegrown right-handed pitcher receive All-Star honors since James Baldwin in 2000.
Will starter Davis Martin be the next? He wasn’t as sharp Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians as he has been most of the season, walking five in 3 1/3 innings. But with a 9-3 record and a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts, Martin still ranks highly in several pitching categories.
“He’s very deserving,” Venable said before Thursday’s game at Progressive Field. “He’s been our guy, and on a good team he’s clearly our best starting pitcher. The guy that we’ve leaned on this whole year. Maybe he hasn’t been perfect a couple of starts that I think could have gone a little bit better, but he’s just been — outside of those — just so consistent. And really good.”
Martin is tied for first in the AL in wins and ranks seventh in ERA.
“Just a couple blemishes there on the year, but just really good,” Venable said. “Really good throughout the year and a guy that’s special.”
A case could also be made for Colson Montgomery, who leads major-league shortstops with 21 home runs and is third in RBIs (49), fourth in slugging percentage (.479) and sixth in wRC+ (116).
And Munetaka Murakami was shaping up to be a no-doubt selection after reaching 20 home runs before June. But the first baseman has been on the injured list since May 30 after suffering a right hamstring strain.
“I just want him to get back healthy as soon as he can for us,” Venable said Friday. Murakami did some baserunning as part of his work Friday afternoon.
“I understand the implications of the All-Star Game and how awesome that is, and his performance has certainly warranted him participating in that game,” Venable said. “But we want him with us being healthy and don’t have an exact timeline on when that would be. But the All-Star Game is not going to influence that.”
Asked how many Sox should be All-Stars, Venable said, “as many as we can get on there.”
“I’m really excited to see how it shakes out,” he said. “I’m sure there will be some disappointment also, and someone we believe should be on there that’s not going to be on there. But we’ll be proud of whoever does make the team.”
