Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers on Saturday, J.P. Hoornstra of DodgersNation.com reports.
Vargas traveled with the Dodgers to South Korea for their upcoming series versus the Padres, but he will not be on the active roster. The 24-year-old has been working out in left field this spring and figures to continue playing the outfield while at OKC.
Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Entering camp as left fielder
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Vargas is coming into Dodgers camp as a left fielder, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Vargas has been an infielder primarily but has played a little left field the previous two seasons. Whether this is a permanent position switch or just getting the 24-year-old more comfortable in the spot where he has the best shot to see action in 2024 is not clear. Vargas is likely headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin this season either way, as Teoscar Hernandez is pegged as the Dodgers' regular left fielder.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Might play more outfield
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Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that Vargas could see more action in the outfield moving forward, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Vargas slumped his way out of the second base job in Los Angeles before the midway point of the 2023 season and the Dodgers have grown more comfortable using Mookie Betts at that position, especially against right-handed pitching. Vargas, accordingly, is going to have to find a different avenue to get back to a regular major-league role in 2024. The 23-year-old boasts a .310/.392/.487 career minor-league batting line and remains an important long-term piece for the reigning NL West champs. He made seven starts in left field down the stretch this summer with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
The Dodgers' top prospect entering the season, Vargas is slashing .146/.273/.293 with two home runs and one steal in 29 games since June 1. His 21 percent strikeout rate and 13 percent walk rate are right in line with expectations, but he has been a bit unlucky on balls in play this season (.224 BABIP) and could maybe use a mental reset. Chris Taylor (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list after the All-Star break.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Not in lineup Friday
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Vargas is not in the lineup Friday versus the Angels.
Mookie Betts will make his 19th start of the year at second base, and it's his sixth start there in the Dodgers' last 12 games. Vargas hit a double in Thursday's win over the Dodgers but holds a disappointing .197/.300/.370 slash line over 299 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Sitting again Wednesday
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Vargas remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Pirates.
Vargas was also absent from the Dodgers' starting lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts off the bench as his season slash line dipped to .195/.299/.367. Mookie Betts will draw another nod at second base Wednesday.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Sitting amid struggles
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Vargas is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates.
Mookie Betts will start at second base and bat leadoff versus the Pirates and right-hander Luis Ortiz. Vargas went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Monday's series opener and is slashing just .197/.301/.369 through 294 plate appearances this season.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Not in Friday's lineup
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Vargas is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Dodgers are giving Mookie Betts a start at second base, which means Vargas will begin this one on the bench. The rookie infielder has just a .570 OPS in June and has seen his playing time dip as a result.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Out of lineup Tuesday
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Vargas is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Vargas has really struggled as of late, and the Dodgers will go with Mookie Betts at second base against Colorado on Tuesday with Max Muncy (hamstring) coming off the injured list to play third. There have been flashes of brilliance from Vargas in his rookie season, but he's in danger of losing more playing time if the lack of offensive production persists.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Not starting Sunday
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Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Vargas started the past eight games and will receive a day to regroup after he went 1-for-29 during that stretch. Mookie Betts will come in to play second base while Jason Heyward starts in right field.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Ends slump with homer
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Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Angels.
Vargas had gone 0-for-20 over his last six games and came up empty in his first three at-bats Wednesday before knocking a ninth-inning solo shot. It snapped an 11-game homer drought for the infielder. He continues to see regular playing time, but he's slashing just .207/.309/.388 with seven homers, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored and three stolen bases over 69 contests. Vargas also struck out three times Wednesday, but he's displayed a decent eye at the plate with a 19.9 percent strikeout rate and a 12.4 percent walk rate on the year.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Out of lineup
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Vargas will sit Saturday against the Phillies, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
Vargas went hitless in Friday's series opener but reached base twice on a pair of walks. His eye has been his biggest strength in his first full major-league season, with his 13.0 percent walk rate helping him to a 110 wRC+ despite his modest .231 batting average and six homers. Mookie Betts will move in to play second base in Vargas' absence, with Jason Heyward taking Betts' usual spot in right field.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Goes deep Wednesday
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Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two total RBI in a loss to the Reds on Wednesday.
Vargas blasted a solo shot to center field in the second inning and added a run-scoring double in the third. The rookie extended his modest hitting streak to five games, during which he's slashing .429/.529/.857 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and a steal. Vargas didn't hit his first homer until his 25th game of the campaign, but he's perked up a bit since with six long balls across his past 33 contests.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Swipes bag in loss
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Vargas went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss to the Reds.
Vargas walked and stole his third base of the year in the sixth and later notched a base hit in the eighth. The 23-year-old has recorded a hit in each of his first four games in June and also has a 3:3 BB:K over that span. Vargas has endured growing pains over the course of his first full MLB season but will continue to see the lion's share of starts at second base. He's slashing .228/.333/.413 with five homers, 26 RBI, 28 runs and a 28:43 BB:K over 216 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Sitting Saturday
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Vargas isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Saturday against the Yankees, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Vargas holds just a .468 OPS over the past week, so he'll get a day off Saturday against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees. Mookie Betts will take Vargas' place at second base, allowing Jason Heyward to start in left field and bat sixth.
Vargas is absent from the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.
Mookie Betts will play second base and Jason Heyward is in right field. Vargas caught fire for a stretch earlier this month, but he is 3-for-23 (.130) with 10 strikeouts over his last seven games.
