CHICAGO -- The echoes of "M-V-P" chants for Miguel Vargas resonated throughout Rate Field this weekend, as White Sox fans passionately backed their star player. Despite a narrow 5-4 defeat to the Royals on Sunday, the South Siders wrapped up their homestand with two series victories, solidifying their position in a tie atop the American League Central with the Guardians.
It's no surprise that fans rally behind their own, but when it comes to Vargas, they're right on the money. Vargas has been instrumental in propelling his team to a 43-39 record, matching the Guardians' 44-40.
On Sunday, he was a force to be reckoned with, reaching base four times, including a two-run homer in the first inning off Royals starter Luinder Avila. His weekend performance was nothing short of spectacular, going 10-for-23 (.435) with three homers, eight RBIs, four walks, and five runs scored.
When asked about the MVP chants, Vargas was quick to deflect the praise back to the fans. "It’s fun," he shared with MLB.com.
"It’s fun when you have a lot of people out there that care about you and they come every night to support you. I’m glad to represent the South Side and play in front of them every night, for sure."
Vargas' impact hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates either. White Sox starter Anthony Kay lauded his third baseman, saying, "He’s been insane.
I had never seen him play up until this year, and he’s obviously a huge piece for us. To have him in the lineup and the defense that he has at third base -- it’s fun to plug into the lineup every day."
Kay's outing on Sunday saw him drop to a 6-3 record, surrendering five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one, but it was Vargas who quickly answered a first-inning Royals run with his 19th home run, bringing Sam Antonacci, who had walked, home.
With one more homer, Vargas will join Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery as the third White Sox player to reach 20 homers before the All-Star break, a feat last achieved by the team in 2006. That year, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and Hall of Famer Jim Thome set the standard.
While Vargas remains humble about MVP talks, he was coy about participating in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star festivities in Philadelphia. His home run tally ties him with Toronto’s Kazuma Okamoto for second among third basemen, just behind Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero at 22.
"Oh no, like I've said before, I'm not a home run guy," Vargas said with a smile. "I don't know.
Obviously, that's a dream, too. We'll see how that goes."
White Sox manager Will Venable praised Vargas’ plate discipline, noting, "He just continues to make really good swing decisions. Some of these at-bats, like going from 0-2 to a walk, are really impressive against good arms."
That patience was on display in the seventh inning against reliever Lucas Erceg, where Vargas worked an 0-2 count into a walk, representing the tying run. Unfortunately, the White Sox couldn't capitalize, failing to score after taking a 4-3 lead in the second inning.
Despite the loss, the White Sox have been formidable at home, boasting a 24-6 record over their last 30 games at Rate Field. They now head to Baltimore and Cleveland, looking to improve on their 15-25 road record.
Keeping Vargas healthy and productive is crucial, especially with Murakami sidelined by a hamstring strain. Vargas is posting a .252/.366/.500 slash line with 52 RBIs, 14 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 81 games, complemented by stellar defense at third.
These numbers suggest a potential first All-Star selection for the 26-year-old, but Vargas remains focused on team success over individual accolades. "That's something I obviously want to reach, it's something everybody wants to do," Vargas said.
"But as a team, we've been playing really good, and we've got bigger goals than that. I'm not a selfish guy, so I want to focus and end this half really strong and see how it takes us for the second half."
In Other News...
Miguel Vargas Is Suddenly Fighting For An All-Star Spot He Deserves
Miguel Vargas has quietly turned the White Sox third-base conversation into something much bigger than a midseason footnote. Even while the voting for the American Leagues All-Star third baseman keeps him behind the names at the top, his first-half work has put him in the kind of company Chicago fans recognize, with the sort of production the franchise has traditionally valued at the hot corner.
The case for Vargas is built on more than just a hot stretch. When his numbers are set alongside some of the best first-half seasons turned in by White Sox third basemen, he stacks up well in several key areas and looks like a player who has earned the spotlight as much as anyone at his position. Whether that turns into a trip to the Midsummer Classic is still up in the air as voting continues, but the attention around him is no longer a surprise. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Farm Update Centers On A Prospect Fans Needed To See Break Out
The White Soxs minor league weekend had a little bit of everything, but the result fans will notice most came in Birmingham, where the Barons finally snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 10-5 win over Tennessee. Chicagos system needed a jolt somewhere, and the Barons got one in the middle of the order, helping turn a frustrating stretch into a much better Sunday in the series finale.
Charlotte, meanwhile, had a tougher night in a 9-4 loss to Rochester, with the pitching staff unable to hold things together late and the offense offering little support. The Knights were limited at the plate, and Winston-Salem also ran into a wall, managing just two hits in a 4-1 loss, so the farm report came with one clear bright spot and a couple of reminders that the organizational climb still has work to do. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Could Face A Deadline Price That Changes Everything
The White Sox are still in the market for pitching help as the deadline picture sharpens, and that has made some of the bolder rumor mill ideas worth a second look. MLB insider Jim Bowden floated a mock deal built around veteran arms Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman, the kind of add-on talent that can change the tone of a staff quickly if a club is willing to pay the price.
For Chicago, the appeal is obvious: both pitchers have been effective lately and would give the rotation and bullpen a real boost. The question is whether that kind of short-term upgrade is worth surrendering prized prospect capital for players with limited team control, especially if the asking price climbs into a range that would reshape the organizations next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]