Though Vargas lacks size and signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, he had made an outsized impact at the plate in his first two pro seasons. He debuted by posting an .878 OPS and ranking fourth in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League with 28 extra-base hits in 54 games, then came to United States last year and topped the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League with 11 homers, 27 extra-base knocks and 112 total bases.
A right-handed hitter, Vargas uses a big leg kick and aggressive hacks to hit the ball much harder than expected from a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder. He has an affinity for turning on pitches and driving them in the air, allowing him to squeeze nearly every drop out of his raw power and giving him 20-homer upside. He has the hand-eye coordination to make that approach work without compromising his timing at the plate, though his strikeout rate did jump from 12 percent in the DSL to 25 percent in 2023.
Vargas has average-to-solid speed with good instincts and an aggressive nature on the bases. He has reliable hands and solid arm strength but limited lateral range at shortstop, where he spent most of 2022, and is better fit at second base, where he played more often last summer. He's also a capable third baseman and projects as a slugging utilityman.
Vargas was initially overshadowed in the Rangers' 2022 international class because he's not very physical and signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic. He quickly has made a name for himself with his bat, however. He ranked fourth in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League with 28 extra-base hits in 55 games during his pro debut last year and is challenging for the home run lead in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League this season.
Vargas employs a big leg kick that allows him to hit the ball harder than expected from a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder without throwing off his timing at the plate. He has an aggressive mindset and looks to drive balls in the air to his pull side, so it remains to be seen how his approach will work against higher-level pitching. If he can become more selective, he might develop into a .260 hitter who provides 20 homers per season.
An average runner with good instincts, Vargas looks to steal and take extra bases. He has bounced between shortstop, second base and third base in his first two pro seasons and fits best at the keystone with his decent quickness, reliable hands and average to solid arm strength. He profiles as an offensive-minded utilityman.
