Friday, February 16, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Miguel Vargas enters the 2024 season looking for redemption for his disappointing 2023 season. Vargas was handed the starting second base job by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he couldn’t stay in the major leagues after the All-Star break.
Since the Dodgers moved Mookie Betts to second base full-time, they are moving Vargas to the outfield. In the minor leagues, Vargas played third base mostly, but the Dodgers have Max Muncy there. Nowhere Vargas is a good defensive player. The Dodgers hope he will be a satisfactory left fielder. Doubtfully, Vargas will make the Opening Day roster unless an outfielder gets injured, but he will be in the major leagues sometime this summer.
Last spring training, Vargas suffered a fractured pinky and wasn’t allowed to swing until the last two weeks of spring training. This hurt Vargas’ confidence. The broken finger weakened his hand and slowed his bat speed. In May, Vargas was hit by a pitch on the same hand. This hurt Vargas further.
If Vargas performed well in Oklahoma City, the Dodgers would have promoted him. He didn’t.
After a week of the offseason, Vargas started working to improve for the 2024 season. He has worked with Dodger first base and outfield coach Clayton McCullough and during the first week of spring training, Vargas has worked with former Gold Glove outfielder Andre Ethier.
The Dodgers need outfield depth. Vargas can provide outfield depth.
