SEATTLE -- Right-hander Carlos Vargas began a rehab assignment Saturday night with High-A Everett, putting a key member of the Mariners’ bullpen one step closer to a late-season debut.
Vargas entered in the fifth inning of the Aquasox’s game against Vancouver at Funko Field and needed just nine pitches to retire the side, firing seven strikes and inducing three ground balls.
That would be the right-handers’ night, after spending a lengthy bottom of the frame in the dugout.
“Vargy getting his first rehab start, and that’s always a good sign,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said ahead of Seattle’s game against the Rays. “We’ll get the chance to see him tomorrow and see how it all went and see how he responds to it. From what I saw here the other day from Vargy, he was excited to be back. You love to see that.”
Though he made the Opening Day roster, Vargas has essentially been out the entire season. He initially hurt himself warming up ahead of Seattle’s lid-lifter against Cleveland, wasn’t available that night and was placed on the 15-day IL the following day with a right lat strain. Two weeks later, he was moved to the 60-day IL.
Vargas, who came to the Mariners with just five MLB appearances under his belt in the 2023 trade that sent Eugenio Suárez to the D-backs, made the Opening Day roster in 2025 and went on to finish second in the Seattle bullpen in appearances (70) and innings pitched (77). He compiled a 3.97 ERA.
The club hasn’t said how long Vargas will be on his rehab assignment, but given how long he’s been out, it’ll probably be on the lengthier end. That being said, he’s the first of a trio of important pieces in the bullpen on the way back, with Matt Brash and Cooper Criswell behind him. Neither has thrown a bullpen yet, though Wilson said it’s “looming soon” for Brash, who has been on the IL since June 10 with right lat strain.