Vargas goes from almost leaving baseball to 'steady presence' for White Sox
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CHICAGO -- Miguel Vargas was talking one on one to a reporter following a larger media scrum during the American League Division Series against Cleveland, when the White Sox third baseman smiled and pointed to the group of reporters walking away.
“You started all this,” Vargas said with a laugh.
That assessment might be true in this particular case, but it’s really Vargas who “started all this.” It’s Vargas who transformed himself from a brutal 2024 debut with the White Sox to an All-Star and the face of the franchise.
It’s Vargas who emerged as a symbol of the White Sox move from 121 losses in 2024 to a winner-take-all Game 5 of the ALDS on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
From trying times to definitive triumph.
“He’s a steady presence and doesn’t change for 0-for-10, 5-for-10, 8-for-10,” right-hander Davis Martin said. “He’s a steady presence in our lineup. He’s a steady presence in our locker room.
“If he’s going about his business like a professional, it lets younger guys know, even though you are an All-Star, you still have to come in and do your job. It’s what he does every day. He makes people laugh. He gets them all relaxed. He remembers this is a fun game to play and you’re supposed to have fun doing it.”
Here’s the interesting twist regarding the rise of Vargas, who turns 27 on Nov. 17: After being traded by the Dodgers on July 29, 2024, and then hitting .104 over 157 plate appearances with the White Sox over the final two months of that season, Vargas thought about leaving the game.
Vargas spoke of these thoughts when he was chosen as a 2026 AL All-Star, giving credit to this special group of White Sox players for returning baseball meaning. He expanded on what was going through his mind at the time in ‘24 during a recent talk with MLB.com
“Yeah, 100 percent,” said Vargas, when asked if he thought about leaving baseball after 2024. “I got to the last couple of weeks of that year, I sit with my dad and we actually ... it wasn’t the first time talking about not playing. It’s just a hard moment.
“I’m happy and glad that I have people on my side to not let that happen for me. Definitely was a dark moment, and yeah, thank God I listened to my dad and I got another shot.”
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Lázaro Vargas was a star player in Cuba, winning Olympic gold medals in baseball for his country in 1992 and ‘96. He has always been an expert source of advice for Miguel and they continue to share ideas through the predominantly good times in the present.
During those talks about leaving, one roadblock standing in the way for Vargas is what he would do without baseball.
"I don’t know. It was so easy to stop playing, but I don’t have an answer to what I wanted to do,” Vargas said. “This is what I have done my whole life. I don’t know how to do anything else. So, I think that was the scary part. This is what I’ve done my whole life. This is what I want to continue to do.”
The decision was a great one for Vargas and equally important for the White Sox.
During Thursday’s 9-5 loss to the Guardians in Game 4, Vargas homered against Cleveland closer Cade Smith leading off the ninth, which began a brief push leading to starter Gavin Williams entering the game. Williams figures to play a major mound role for Cleveland in Game 5, so getting 18 pitches from him on Thursday could loom as important.
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Throughout the rest of the game, Vargas walked three times with the Guardians pitching carefully to one of the White Sox top forces. He has the speed to steal 20 bases, the power to hit 30 homers and 30 doubles, and plays stellar defense at third.
As if all those blessings weren’t enough, Vargas’ beloved Minnesota Vikings have a 4-0 record and the fantasy football team he co-operates with Sam Antonacci just won for the first time.
“A lot of good things are happening for me in my life,” a smiling Vargas said. “I’m very happy about it.”
Vargas’ joy would be increased with at least one more win Saturday and a trip to the ALCS against the Rays.
“I haven’t talked about it in a long time, but I have no words to describe this moment,” he said. “I thought the moment was going to take us so long to be here and get this opportunity.
“It was so quick and so fast. I didn’t even have time to sit down and see what I have done and what this team has done this year. Hopefully, at the end of the year, I can sit and actually enjoy.”