CHICAGO -- Since White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas seemingly has all the answers offensively, as evidenced by a two-homer, four-hit game during a 13-3 loss to the Cubs Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, it only seems fitting Vargas was quick with the postgame replies as well.
And he hit the questions in a frequently humorous fashion.
It’s no secret Vargas struggled mightily after being traded from the Dodgers to the White Sox at the Deadline last year as part of a three-team, eight-player deal, finishing a dismal 14-for-135 over 42 games as the White Sox careened to 121 losses. So, did Vargas see a turnaround as possible during those tough times in ‘24?
“I don’t remember anything about last year,” said Vargas with a wry smile. “Sorry.”
Vargas, 25, was the White Sox linchpin in that deal, shipping Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham out of Chicago. But despite coming into the 2025 season stronger physically after losing weight in ‘24, the numbers didn’t immediately change with a .139/.236/.203 slash line through 22 games with no home runs, five doubles, six RBIs, eight walks and 23 strikeouts.
His approach was solid, but the results weren’t there. Until Vargas made a small change with his hands starting higher in each plate appearance, and from there, the positive results were almost instant.
Cubs rookie Cade Horton can attest to Vargas’ prowess, as he culminated a seven-pitch at-bat with a two-run homer and a 2-0 White Sox lead in the first and then drove out a solo blast in the third to cut the Cubs’ lead to 6-3. He is 26-for-74 (.351) with five doubles, five homers, 13 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 20 games since April 23.
“Really, it's been the same since that adjustment that he made a couple of weeks ago,” said White Sox manager Will Venable. “We've seen the same kind of at-bats. We've always seen the plate discipline. And then just one day, he started moving the ball forward with authority and just kept doing it.”
“I'm really happy for him,” said right-hander Shane Smith, who suffered the loss Friday despite allowing one earned run (out of six) over five innings and 89 pitches. “It’s one thing to make adjustments and you’re not sure if they’re working or if it’s something else. But for him to make the adjustment and to see the success is a really good feeling.”
That sort of quick change, from the doldrums to quasi-stardom, based on a slight change in approach, is nothing Venable has really seen previously.
“Not like that,” Venable said. “Really was kind of a switch that he flipped on and just one day he started turning balls forward and just really hasn’t stopped.”
“Sometimes that’s how baseball works,” Vargas said. “You try to figure it out and then one day you find out and it works. I’m very happy to get the results right away. I can be consistent with it.”
A softly-hit single in the sixth and a double in the eighth, not missing a third homer by much, was on Vargas’ series-opening resume. He fell a triple short of the cycle while making stellar defensive plays at third, including taking away extra bases and at least one RBI from Carson Kelly to end the sixth.
Let’s go back to Vargas' postgame personality, shining through from a player who has found his niche and found a home. He was asked about trying to play to the wind, which was blowing out at 21 mph in the 82-degree game-time temperature.
“No, I can hit homers too. It’s not because of the park. Just kidding,” said Vargas with a laugh. “I mean, it was a special game for me. A little sad we couldn’t make the win today. Tough game for us. But I think we got another day tomorrow and we hopefully get the win.”
Three of his homers have come in the last four games, with Vargas becoming the first White Sox player with a multi-homer effort this season. So does this change also make him a home run hitter?
“I just consider myself a baseball player,” Vargas said.
General manager Chris Getz joked before the game how he would like to ruin the weekend of Jed Hoyer -- his neighbor, friend and the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. Vargas did his best to make that wish come true in front of 40,171 fans, but instead was the standout in the Cubs’ sixth straight win over the White Sox and ninth in 11 games.
“Like I said before, I’ve been feeling great,” Vargas said. “The adjustment really helped me. I’m really, really happy.”