JUPITER, FL – This past season, Hammerheads’ infielder Echedry Vargas had one of the best seasons in recent memory for Jupiter, which concluded with several awards and finished with the 2026 Florida State League Championship. Vargas had one of the best seasons not only in the Florida State League, but across all of Single-A as well as all of Minor League Baseball.
The 21-year-old infielder took home several awards this past season, including the Florida State League Most Valuable Player award, Florida State League Triple Crown, Marlins Single-A Most Valuable Player, Florida State League Post-Season All-Star at first base, and Florida State League Player of the Month in August.
Vargas slashed .323/.372/.611/.983 with 27 home runs and 94 RBI in 103 games, winning the Florida State League Triple Crown and setting the Hammerheads’ all-time single-season home run record which was previously set by Marcell Ozuna in 2012 with 24 home runs. Vargas also paced the FSL in total bases (229), OPS (.983) and extra-base hits (52), and was one of three Minor League players this season with at least 25 home runs and a batting average above .320.
In five playoff games for Jupiter, Vargas went 8-for-22 with two home runs, six RBIs, one double, two walks, and tallied 15 total bases to lead all Hammerheads.
Vargas was acquired by the Marlins organization on December 11, 2024 along with infielder Maximo Acosta and pitcher Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger who was sent to the Texas Rangers. A native of the Dominican Republic, Vargas originally signed with the Texas Rangers on January 15, 2022 and played three seasons prior to joining Miami.
Vargas was nice enough to provide a few minutes of his time as the 2026 season came to a close to provide a deeper perspective into his season, career, and life outside of baseball. For this feature interview, Vargas practiced English with the help of Ruthy Muñoz, a bilingual life skills and player education specialist for the Miami Marlins organization. The Miami Marlins require all Hispanic-born players to take English classes five days a week as part of an organization-wide initiative to improve the players’ English and to make the players acclimate better to their careers in the United States. We thank Ruthy Muñoz for her time and help with conducting this interview.
Some answers have been modified for translation and grammar purposes.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, when did you start playing baseball and who taught you to play in your early years?
Well, I started playing with my cousins in the backyard at home, and that’s how it began.
How old were you?
Oh, at seven years old with my cousins.
You originally signed with the Texas Rangers. What was it like for you to be traded to the Marlins organization?
I felt sad, but that’s part of the business. And I feel that I have more opportunities to move forward with this team. That’s a good thing for me.
How have these past two years with the Marlins organization been for you?
My first year didn’t go very well. I mean, I didn’t have a plan in mind or a routine. I worked on the little details where I saw I had gone wrong. I worked hard in the offseason and came back with a new, positive mindset.
Last season in Beloit, things didn’t necessarily go according to plan. What was it like for you when you were told that you would play in Jupiter this season?
That gave me strength — more strength to show who I am and that I can do it. I always tried to see it positively. It was a little frustrating at first, but that’s part of baseball.
Things have been going quite well lately. Would you like to talk about that?
No, no, it’s all God’s will. I’m always grateful to God for what He gives us. And I always stay positive. You have to keep going strong. Whether times are bad or good, you just have to keep moving forward.
Since July, you’ve hit (20 home runs), did you make any changes to find more power in your swing?
No, the same as always. You just have to trust and leave work in God’s hands, get good results, and keep the same routine. Even when things are going badly, you don’t change your routine. You keep doing the same things.
You set the Jupiter record for most home runs in a season. How does it feel to accomplish that?
Honestly, I feel proud of the work I’ve been doing. I wasn’t focused on a record or anything like that. I was just going to give my best on the field to help the team win.
What are some of the things you’ve been working on this year that you really wanted to improve?
My hitting. I focused on my hitting because that affected me the most last year.
Now that the season is over and the offseason is approaching, what do you want to work on and what would you like to accomplish?
Improve — just keep improving everything. You always have to improve a little bit of everything. Just because you had a good year hitting or on defense doesn’t mean you stop working. You always have to keep working on the same things and stay focused.
Besides baseball, what should fans know about you? What are your hobbies, interests, or other things you enjoy doing?
Spending time with my friends and family. I also play video games with them a lot. In my free time, I play games, sleep, and spend time with my family.
What do you most enjoy doing in Jupiter on your off days?
I go out with my friends and have fun. I also spend a lot of time playing with them at the apartment, relaxing together in our free time.
Playing video games?
Video games, yes. MLB The Show.
About Jupiter Stadium, LTD:
Opening in 1998, the 110-acre complex/stadium is specially designed to house two Major League and two Minor League Baseball Teams. The stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals for Spring Training. The Florida State League’s Jupiter Hammerheads (Class A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) make their home at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium from April through September. Branded as “America’s Busiest Ballpark,” this year-round facility can accommodate everything from birthday parties to corporate outings to tournaments, while never forgetting that every fan is our most important priority.