Vargas on a heater to begin 2026, bringing unexpected power to D-backs

PHOENIX -- From the moment the Diamondbacks traded Blaze Alexander a few weeks before Spring Training, Ildemaro Vargas had a good shot to make the Opening Day roster -- but it wasn't until just a couple of days before the season opener that he was officially told he had made it.

Nearly a month later, the Diamondbacks are left to wonder where they would be without him.

The journeyman utility player stepped into an everyday role due to early-season injuries and has continued to deliver both offensively and defensively. His latest installment came Wednesday night, when he hit a pair of homers to help lead the Diamondbacks to an 11-7 win over the White Sox.

The first long ball was struck against Chicago's Anthony Kay in the second inning.

Vargas has now hit in 20 straight games dating back to last season and his streak of 17 straight games to open a campaign is tied for the longest such streak since the start of 2013.

The last streak to go longer to begin a season was Pablo Sandoval with a 20-gamer in 2012.

Vargas followed that three-run homer in the second with a two-run blast in the third, marking his third straight plate appearance with a home run, dating back to a ninth-inning homer on Tuesday night.

Vargas already has five homers on the season, one shy of a career high he set in 2019 when he had 211 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks. So far this year, he's slashed .364/.382/.697.

Not bad for someone expected to be a backup infielder.

"I don't really know where the power is coming from," Vargas said through interpreter Rolando Valles.

The three-run homer in the second was much needed after the White Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first.

"The three-run home run just immediately gave the team energy, gave the dugout energy, and just got us realigned," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "And that was a really good moment for him personally, and then for the team, where we just were kind of in a little bit of a slumber."

Vargas has always been someone who provides energy to a team. See him in the clubhouse and he always has a smile on his face. Need someone to play on a day game after a night game? Count Vargas in. Wherever he goes at the ballpark, fun seems to follow.

Originally signed by the Diamondbacks out of independent ball in 2015 after seven years in the Cardinals organization, Vargas is in his third stint with Arizona in large part because the organization knows what he brings to the table -- especially in a reserve role.

"I mean, I love Vargy," Lovullo said. "There's no mystery to that. This organization has welcomed him back several times. He's just a great piece for a manager to have. He's very versatile. He's engaged; he's shown a high baseball IQ. He just brings a steadiness to this ballclub. And right now he's on a heater, and we're going to enjoy that run with him and he'll continue to get the opportunity to go out there and perform."

As for the hitting streak, well, Vargas is trying not to think about that. It went down to his final at-bat Tuesday night before his homer kept it alive.

"The fact that my teammates are enjoying the whole situation is what I appreciate the most," Vargas said. "I'm actually enjoying and embracing the moment and having fun with it."

Vargas is probably closest to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte, and they've done their part to keep him from thinking about the streak and the incredible run he's been on.

"Domo and Ketel, at the beginning of each day, tell me, 'Hey, you haven't done anything,'" Vargas said. "And my goal is to go through the day as routinely as I can and just do everything that I would normally do as if it weren't happening."

But it is happening. For how long it will continue, who can say? One thing you can count on is Vargas will keep showing a smile on his face and laughter following him everywhere.