The Los Angeles Dodgers made a series of moves ahead of their series finale against the New York Mets on Thursday, activating Clayton Kershaw off the 15-day injured list and recalling Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
For Vargas, it marks his second time up with L.A. this season after previously being added to the 40-man roster in early August, when he joined the team for a road series against the San Francisco Giants.
The 22-year-old went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in his MLB debut on Aug. 3. He was in the Dodgers lineup two nights later but went hitless in four at-bats, and has yet to record a hit in two more games (one start).
Vargas presumably will remain with the club for the remainder of the regular season, and manager Dave Roberts revealed one of the Dodgers’ top prospects could play his way onto the postseason roster, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Sure, absolutely,” Roberts said. “But, that still comes with not having pressure, just going out and playing. But yeah, it’s a performance-based business and if he plays well, and things break the right way, absolutely. He should be in the conversation.”
Vargas may not regularly start for the Dodgers but still figures to receive playing time at third base, left field and designated hitter. Gavin Lux dealing with an ongoing neck injury could create an opportunity at second base as well. Vargas .375 with eight doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in 19 games for OKC before returning to the Dodgers.
Vargas represented the Dodgers in the 2022 Futures Game at Dodger Stadium and hit an overall .304/.402/.511 with 17 home runs, 82 RBI, 99 runs scored and 16 stolen bases across 112 games for Oklahoma City this season.
Vargas ‘didn’t feel like anyone could stop me’ on stolen base in Dodgers debut
After roping an RBI double in his first at-bat with the Dodgers last month, Vargas stole third base on the first pitch following the extra-base hit.
Vargas explained that he decided to swipe the bag on his own because he was overflowing with confidence.
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