Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

July 2023 was not a great month for pitching development in the Rockies organization, with three pitchers having Tommy John surgery: Gabriel Hughes, Jackson Cox and Vargas, putting a pause on the promising start to Vargas’ pro career. Signed for $500,000 in January 2021, Vargas made a strong first impression in the Dominican Summer League that year, then pitched his way from the Arizona Complex League to full-season ball in '22. He was back with Single-A Fresno when he was shut down 13 starts into his 2023 season.

When he’s healthy, Vargas might be the best pitching prospect in the system in terms of being able to pound the strike zone with a solid three-pitch mix. He can command his low-90s fastball to both sides of the plate, and the carry it has in the top of the zone helps it play up and keeps hitters from barreling it up. He can get a little fastball-heavy in his pitch mix, but he was making strides in his secondary offerings, especially in focusing in on one breaking ball. Instead of trying to create a distinct slider and curve only to have them run into each other, he’s recognized that the biting slider has a real chance to be an out pitch. There’s a solid changeup in there as well.

With a narrow and slender frame, it remains to be seen if Vargas can put on weight and add strength in order to be durable enough -- and maintain his stuff enough -- to be a starter. There’s also work to be done in terms of professional maturity and not letting his emotions get the better of him on the mound. For now, though, rehabbing his elbow is the top priority with an eye towards a full return in 2025 when he’ll still be just 21 years old.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The Dominican Summer League is typically known as being very hitter-friendly. Vargas, who signed for $500,000 in January 2021, didn’t get that memo and made a very strong first impression during his pro debut in the DSL. He came stateside in 2022 and showed that was no fluke, pitching his way from the Arizona Complex League to full-season Fresno. He had returned to the California League club to start the 2023 season but was shut down at the beginning of July and had Tommy John surgery at the end of the month.

Just 19 for all of the 2023 season, Vargas has already impressed with his potential three-pitch mix and feel for how to use it to get hitters out. Coming from a slight and narrow build -- one evaluator said he’s built like a fungo -- he has a low-90s fastball that plays up a bit because of his ability to command it to both sides of the plate and the ride it gets at the top of the zone. Lower-level hitters haven’t been able to square it up, and he’ll have to learn not to rely on it as much as he faces better competition, having thrown the pitch close to 70 percent of the time in 2022. The good thing is he has secondary offerings to go to. He can really spin a breaking ball, and while it sometimes gets caught between a slider and curve, it has depth and bite. It’s a pitch he can land early for a strike and also use as an out pitch. He has good feel for his changeup too, and sometimes it’s better than the breaking ball. 

Vargas goes right after hitters and should be able to continue filling up the strike zone. It remains to be seen how much strength he can add to his wiry frame, with any physical maturity only adding to his potential starting pitcher profile, something he’ll try to continue building once he’s fully recovered from his surgery.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

The son of former big league reliever Yorkis Perez, Vargas signed with the Rockies for $500,000 when the 2020-21 international signing period opened in January 2021. The right-hander made an immediate impression by spending the summer dominating the Dominican Summer League at the age of 17, with a 1.30 ERA over 34 2/3 innings.

Having thrown all summer, the Rockies didn’t bring Vargas to instructs last fall, building anticipation for his United States debut in 2022. He can already touch the mid-90s with his fastball, throwing it with good spin rates and resulting life. His curve has the chance to be a plus pitch, with outstanding downward action and spin. Working on a changeup will come with time.

At 6-foot-3, Vargas has the type of projectible frame that should be able to handle a lot more strength, with more velocity highly likely as he matures. He already has a good idea of his delivery and is largely around the strike zone. Like a lot of young pitchers with premium stuff, he can get into trouble by hunting strikeouts, but as he learns to be more of a pitcher than a thrower, Minor League hitters better watch out.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

CAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/21/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/29/2024	Fresno Grizzlies activated RHP Jordy Vargas from the 60-day injured list.
	03/20/2024	Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Jordy Vargas on the 60-day injured list.
	03/20/2024	Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Jordy Vargas on the 60-day injured list.
	11/06/2023	Fresno Grizzlies activated RHP Jordy Vargas from the 60-day injured list.
	07/25/2023	Fresno Grizzlies transferred RHP Jordy Vargas from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	07/14/2023	Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Jordy Vargas on the 7-day injured list.
	08/09/2022	RHP Jordy Vargas assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from ACL Rockies.
	06/04/2022	RHP Jordy Vargas assigned to ACL Rockies.
	07/09/2021	RHP Jordy Vargas assigned to DSL Colorado.
	01/15/2021	Colorado Rockies signed free agent P Jordy Vargas.