CLEVELAND — Miguel Vargas experienced some tough times in 2024.
“It’s hard at the time, at the moment, I was processing,” Vargas said Saturday afternoon. “I just want to have joy and be happy at the field and be myself and I couldn’t find that.”
Now, the third baseman is an All-Star.
“I think these guys the last couple of years, they have been helping me,” Vargas said. “They carried me to this point and I cannot be more glad to be part of this group.”
Vargas will represent the Chicago White Sox on the American League roster at the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Rosters were announced Saturday evening.
“It means a lot,” Vargas said. “I put a lot of hard work in there and it’s great to see some payoff. I truly believe that more than one guy deserves to go to the All-Star from this team. But I’m glad to represent all of them.
“They have been great for me and I’m very excited to have this All-Star for me.”
Vargas is the first Sox third baseman to make the All-Star team since Joe Crede in 2008 and sixth overall, along with Robin Ventura (1992), Bill Melton (1971), George Kell (1954) and Jimmy Dykes (1934).
“I’m so happy for (Vargas),” manager Will Venable said. “You’re not supposed to have favorites and I’m not going to say he’s my favorite, but I’m a big fan of Vargy and I think it really starts with the kind of guy he is, the things that he does in the clubhouse, on the field for us, really even before you start talking about the excellent performance that he’s been able to really dial in and tap into this year.
“He is as good as anybody to represent this club and what we’re about, that I can think of.”
Vargas entered Saturday’s contest against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field slashing .248/.359/.495 with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs in 86 games. His 3.2 fWAR ranked 18th in MLB and 13th among position players.
“It’s a long way for me, a couple of years ago, I had a lot of tough moments,” Vargas said. “Seeing all the way that I came, this means a lot for me. This whole group of guys helped me a lot, the coaching staff and everybody to be there with me to get me to this point.
“I’m very glad to represent the White Sox and I’m very happy for this.”
Vargas hit .104 in 42 games with the Sox in 2024 after being acquired in a July 29 trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made strides last season, hitting .234 with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs in 138 games.
This year, he ranks first among major-league third basemen in runs (58) and walks (51), was tied for first in RBIs, second in home runs, OPS (.854) and slugging and third in weighted runs created plus (138).
“I think we saw stretches (in 2025), we saw some really good stretches,” Venable said. “We talked a lot about it where he was able to tap into some stuff. But it just kind of ended up kind of going in and out of that. That sparks some real excitement about the type of player that he could be. He went into the offseason, worked extremely hard on his body, extremely hard on his swing and saw the bat speed go up.
“(Vargas) has been able to sustain these stretches of performing well, to the point where it’s just kind of what you expect every day.”
Like Vargas, Venable expressed disappointment that the Sox didn’t have multiple players named to the AL roster Saturday.
“I’m like pissed about it, honestly,” Venable said. “Because I just think we have so many good candidates. And as good as this team has played, that they’re deserving of that. At the same time, maybe it’s emblematic of the type of team we have. We always talk about how we’re getting contributions from different parts of our roster.
“So I get it. I just think there’s some other guys that are deserving and hopefully we get some other guys sneaking in there (as replacements).”
Venable referred to Vargas as “a special guy.”
“He’s got a special easy way about how he goes through the day,” Venable said. “And at the same time, he’s extremely competitive, he’s fiery internally, we see how hard he runs. It’s just kind of a special mix.”
That mix has led to a first All-Star selection for Vargas.
“I appreciate my teammates and all the front office, coaching staff and all the fans in Chicago, they help support us the whole year, and this is a great moment for my family as well,” Vargas said.
“I know how important this is for them too. I want to share that with them.”
