Jason Matthew Vargas (born February 2, 1983) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professiona ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or dr ...
. He has played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...
(MLB) for the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fran ...
,
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...
,
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...
,
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
,
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major lea ...
and
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
. The Marlins drafted Vargas in the second round of the
2004 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 2005. In 2017, he was an All Star and tied for the American League lead in wins.
Amateur career
Vargas was born in
Apple Valley, California
Apple Valley is an incorporated town in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County, in the U.S. state of California. It was incorporated on November 14, 1988, and is one of the 22 incorporated municipalities in California that use "town" in thei ...
. He attended
Victor Valley High School
Victor Valley High School is located in Victorville, California, United States. It is the oldest high school in the Victor Valley Union High School District (VVUHSD).
The original campus was located at the former Victor Valley Junior High and U ...
in
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city in Victor Valley in San Bernardino County, California. Its population as of the 2020 census was 134,810.
History
In 1858, Aaron G. Lane came to what is now known as Victorville and founded a waystation called "Lane's Cr ...
, where he played for the school's baseball team under his father, who was
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in asso ...
. His father retired in 1998, and Vargas transferred to
Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley. Vargas graduated in 2001.
The
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
drafted him with the 1,273rd pick in the
2001 Major League Baseball draft
The 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 5 and 6.
First round selections
Supplemental First Round Selections
Compensation Picks
Background
On June 1, 2001, Rolando Viera, a Cuban ...
. He declined to sign with Minnesota, and instead enrolled at
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 n ...
(LSU) to play
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
for the
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers are the athletic teams representing Louisiana State University (LSU), a state university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU competes in NCAA Division I, Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Associat ...
. As a freshman at LSU, Vargas had a 1–1
win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
with a 3.43
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the numb ...
in 13 games. He also saw occasional playing time as a
first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
and
designated hitter
The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player, most commonly the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and later by t ...
. In his first college at bat, he launched a
pinch hit
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, America ...
grand slam to lift the Tigers to a victory over
Mercer.
Vargas decided to transfer out of LSU after the 2002 season to
Cypress College for the season, picking a
junior college
A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in ...
so he would still be eligible for the draft. He was 11–3 with a 3.10 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 107.1 innings as he batted .374. He was the Southern California junior college player of the year for his work on the mound and at the plate. However, as the season wore on, his arm slot dropped, and his velocity fell into the mid-80s. That, combined with Vargas'
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
demands, depressed his draft stock, so he went undrafted.
Vargas transferred to
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public research university in Long Beach, California. The 322-acre campus is the second largest of the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and one of the largest universities ...
to play for the
Long Beach State 49ers
Long Beach State athletics, or simply Beach athletics (previously known as the 49ers), are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Long Beach. Teams compete in 19 sports at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NC ...
for his junior year. At Long Beach, he learned to keep his top half aligned with his lower half over the
rubber
Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...
and not drift toward the
plate
Plate may refer to:
Cooking
* Plate (dishware), a broad, mainly flat vessel commonly used to serve food
* Plates, tableware, dishes or dishware used for setting a table, serving food and dining
* Plate, the content of such a plate (for example: ...
as he twisted through his delivery. The tweak allowed Vargas to repeat his mechanics and keep his arm higher, which in turn increased the velocity on his
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. " Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thr ...
and improved the break on his
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curv ...
. The new work ethic paid off, and in Vargas went 7–4 with a 4.14 ERA in 18 games on the
mound
A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically highe ...
, while hitting .354 with 14
doubles
Men's doubles, Women's doubles or Mixed doubles are sports having two players per side, including;
* Beach volleyball
* Doubles badminton
* Doubles curling
* Footvolley
* Doubles pickleball
* Doubles squash
* Doubles table tennis
* Doubles te ...
and five
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s as the team's
designated hitter
The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player, most commonly the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and later by t ...
.
Professional career
Florida Marlins
The
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fran ...
drafted Vargas out of Long Beach State with their second-round pick in the
2004 MLB draft, and he was signed by scout Robby Cosaro; he was a collegiate teammate of
Jered Weaver
Jered David Weaver (born October 4, 1982) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. Weaver was drafted in the first round (12th ove ...
, who was the
Anaheim Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...
' first-round pick in 2004. Vargas was the 68th player taken overall in the draft. He signed with the Marlins in time to make eight starts in 2004 with their Low A affiliate, the
Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, New York from 1994 until 2014. The team was the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the New York–Penn League. The team play ...
, with whom he went 3–1 with an ERA of 1.96 in eight starts, and was named the #3 prospect in the New York=Penn League by ''
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
''.
He was the Marlins Organizational Pitcher of the Month for August.
He finished 2004 with three starts at the end of the 2004 campaign with one of the Marlins' Single-A affiliates, the
Greensboro Grasshoppers of the
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...
. He had a record of 2–1, an ERA of 2.37, and
struck out 17 batters in 19 innings pitched.
Vargas was then promising enough that ''Baseball America'' listed him 8th among the Marlins' top 10 prospects for ; those above him were
Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Ryan Hermida (born January 30, 1984) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres, an ...
,
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen (born January 12, 1984) is an American former pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals between 2005 and 2010.
Early life
Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He attend ...
,
Yorman Bazardo
Yorman Michael Bazardo Osorio (born July 11, 1984) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros.
Career
Florida Marlins
Growing up, B ...
,
Jason Stokes
Jason Stokes (born January 23, 1982 in Irving, Texas) is a former professional baseball player. Primarily a first baseman, he played in Minor League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins organizations.
Biography
As a senior f ...
,
Josh Willingham,
Eric Reed, and
Taylor Tankersley
Taylor Mark Tankersley (born March 7, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins.
Career Amateur
During his senior year at Warren Central High School in Vicksburg ...
. ''Baseball America'' predicted that Vargas would start the season in Greensboro and finish it in High A with the
Jupiter Hammerheads; Vargas would very easily surpass that expectation during the 2005 season.
Vargas did start the 2005 season with Greensboro, as was expected, but he advanced quickly through the Marlins' minor-league system. He made five starts with Greensboro, going 4–1 with an
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the numb ...
of just 0.80 in five starts and was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week on April 24, and the Marlins Organizational Pitcher of the Month for April, and Minor League Player of the Week honors for the week of April 18–24.
He was then promoted to Jupiter, where he went 2–3 with a 3.42 ERA in nine starts; while there, he struck out 60 batters in 55 innings. With his third club of the year, the Double-A
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Zebulon, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and play their home games at Five County Stadium. ...
, he made three starts, going 1–0 with a 2.84 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. He led all Florida minor league pitchers in 2005 with a 2.50 ERA.
The Marlins noticed Vargas's success in the minor leagues and, when faced with injuries to their own pitching staff, decided to make him the fourth Mudcats pitcher to play in the major leagues in 2005 (the others were
Logan Kensing
Logan French Kensing (born July 3, 1982) is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers.
...
, Olsen, and Bazardo). He made his major-league debut on July 14, 2005, the same day on which the Marlins designated veteran starter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry Leiter (; born October 23, 1965) is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from to for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blu ...
for assignment. His first start in the majors would come on July 18 against the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...
. Unlike Kensing, Olsen, and Bazardo, Vargas enjoyed nearly immediate success upon his arrival in the major leagues, and after
Ismael Valdéz returned from a leg injury, the Marlins moved
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler (born December 31, 1971) is a former starting pitcher.
Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 1993 draft, and assigned to the Niag ...
to the bullpen and left Vargas in their rotation. On August 21, Vargas started against the
Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Broo ...
and pitched his first complete game in the majors, giving up one run on six hits and striking out seven. He finished the 2005 season with a record of 5–5 and a 4.03 ERA in 17 games, 13 of which were starts.
Vargas received one third-place vote from the
Baseball Writers' Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is a professional association for journalists writing about Major League Baseball for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying websites. The organization was founded in 1908, and is known ...
in the 2005 MLB
Rookie of the Year voting.
Vargas started the season in the Marlins' starting rotation, but he struggled there; in five starts, he went 1–1 with a 5.40 ERA, 20
walks, and 14 strikeouts in 23 innings. For the month of May, the Marlins moved him to the bullpen, where he gave up one run in 5 innings over his first three appearances. In his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 3 innings; the Marlins optioned him to the Triple-A
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an e ...
on May 14. Vargas started improving with Albuquerque, going 2–2 with a 4.54 ERA in seven starts and earning another promotion to the major leagues on July 6.
However, over his next three games with the Marlins, all in relief, Vargas allowed 13 runs (12 earned), four home runs, and five walks in 10 innings; he struck out five batters. The Marlins sent him back to Albuquerque on July 29, where he stayed for the rest of Albuquerque's season. Vargas continued to struggle in his second stint with Albuquerque, allowing 38 earned runs on 56 hits in 31 innings.
The Marlins did not call him up again in 2006 after the major-league rosters expanded in September. Overall, Vargas went 1–2 with a 7.33 ERA in 12 games (five of which were starts) for the Marlins,
and 3–6 with a 7.43 ERA in 13 starts for the Isotopes in 2006.
New York Mets
On November 20, 2006, the Marlins traded Vargas to the New York Mets along with fellow starting pitcher Adam Bostick in exchange for relief pitchers
Matt Lindstrom and
Henry Owens. Vargas began the season with the Triple-A
New Orleans Zephyrs
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...
, compiling a 2–3 record with a 5.30 ERA, which Mets manager
Willie Randolph described as "so-so".
He was called up to the Mets on May 13 after an injured
Moisés Alou was sent to the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
, and took over the rotation spot previously held by
Mike Pelfrey, who was optioned to New Orleans after posting an 0–5 record in 6 outings. His first outing as a Met was on May 17, a no decision in a 6–5 victory over the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...
. His next outing as a Met was on July 3 against the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...
. Vargas pitched 3.1 innings, giving up nine earned runs. He pitched only 10.1 innings for the Mets in 2007.
Vargas had a
bone spur
An exostosis, also known as bone spur, is the formation of new bone on the surface of a bone. Exostoses can cause chronic pain ranging from mild to debilitatingly severe, depending on the shape, size, and location of the lesion. It is most common ...
removed from his left elbow in October, and had surgery to repair a torn
labrum in his left hip on March 17, 2008, following which he missed the entire 2008 season.
Seattle Mariners
On December 10, , Vargas was one of seven players sent to the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...
in a three-team trade between the Mets, Mariners, and the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...
.
Vargas was optioned down to the Triple-A
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, which opened in 1960 ...
on July 7, , to make roster room for
Chris Shelton. On September 1 Vargas was called up to the Majors. He had been 4–3 with a 3.14 ERA in nine starts with Tacoma. In 2009 with Seattle he was 3–6 with a 4.91 ERA in 23 games, 14 of which were starts.
Vargas started the 2010 Mariner season in the squad's starting rotation, and through June proved to be one of the most surprising success stories on the troubled Seattle team's roster. Through 14 starts he had posted a 6–2 record over 91.1 innings, with a 2.66 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 23 walks.
By the end of the season Vargas had thrown 192 innings over 31 starts, and posted a 9–12 record with a 3.78 ERA and 116 strikeouts.
He kept left-handed batters to a .200 average, which was 9th-lowest in the American League.
In 2011 he was 10–13 with a 4.25 ERA in 32 starts, and his three shutouts were 3rd in the league while his four complete games were 4th in the league, and his 13 losses were 7th in the league.
In January 2012 the Mariners and Vargas agreed on a 1-year deal worth $4.85 million for the
2012 season. In July, Vargas went 5–0 in six starts, had an AL-best 1.64 ERA, and was named the AL
Pitcher of the Month. For the season, he was 14–11 with a 3.85 ERA, his 33 starts were fourth in the league, and his 217.3 innings pitched were sixth in the American League, while his 35 home runs given up were second in the league.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
On December 19, 2012, Vargas was traded to the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...
for first baseman
Kendrys Morales
Kendrys Morales Rodríguez (born June 20, 1983) is a Cuban-Dominican former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, Minn ...
. In May 2013 he was again AL Pitcher of the Month.
In 2013, he was 9–8 with a 4.02 ERA in 24 starts, and his two shutouts and his three complete games were each 3rd in the league.
Kansas City Royals
On November 21, 2013, Vargas signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
. He opened the 2014 season as the number three starter for the Royals and posted a career-best 3.71 ERA over 187 innings, as he was 11–10 in 30 starts. His 1.97 walks per 9.0 innings ratio tied for 10th in the American League, and was third-best among AL left-handers.
On July 21, 2015, during a game against the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
, Vargas was forced to leave the game after throwing only 26 pitches, with an apparent injury to his throwing arm. The next day, Vargas was diagnosed with a torn
UCL in his left elbow, forcing him to undergo
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's ...
and miss the remainder of the 2015 season and much of the 2016 season. For 2015, he was 5–2 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts.
Although his season ended prematurely before the Royals' World Series run in 2015, he did receive a World Series ring.
On September 17, 2016, he made his first start following his recovery from surgery, against the Chicago White Sox. In 2016 he pitched only 12 innings, all of which were scoreless.
The 2017 season was Vargas's fourth year with the Kansas City Royals, and his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery. Vargas started strong, going 12–3 in the first half, and was named to the American League All Star team for the
2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 88th edition of the Major League Baseball All Star Game. The game was hosted by the Miami Marlins and was played at Marlins Park on July 11, 2017. It was televised nationally by Fox. The game ...
. It was the first-ever All Star selection of his career. In the second half Vargas struggled, posting a 2–8 record, including a four-game losing streak. He rebounded, however, winning four straight decisions in the month of September, and in the process establishing a career-high for wins. Vargas finished the season with an 18–11 record and an ERA of 4.16 in 179.2 innings, with his 18 wins tied for the American League lead, and his 32 starts 9th in the league.
He led major league pitchers in percent of balls
pulled against him (48.8%). He also led all major league pitchers in
changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
percentage (32.7%). On defense his 23 assists as a pitcher were 5th in the league, as his 1.60 range factor/9IP was 4th in the league and he fielded 1.000.
Return to the Mets
On February 18, 2018, Vargas signed with the Mets for two years and $16 million, plus an $8 million option for a third year.
On March 16, Vargas suffered a non-displaced fracture of the
hamate bone in his right hand.
He missed the first month of the season due to the broken right hand. On June 25, he was once again placed on the disabled list, with a calf injury. On August 29, he struck out his 1,000th batter becoming one of 16 active left-handers to reach that milestone.
In 2018, he posted a 7–9 record with a 5.77 ERA in 20 starts.
On June 23, 2019, Vargas threatened a ''
Newsday
''Newsday'' is an American daily newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI", and fo ...
'' reporter with bodily harm (''i.e.'', being punched out) in the Mets locker room after a game against the Cubs. The following day Vargas was fined $10,000 by the Mets for his actions. At the time that he was traded in 2019, he was 6–5 with a 4.01 ERA for the Mets, in 19 games, 18 of which were starts.
Philadelphia Phillies
On July 29, 2019, the Mets traded Vargas and $2.9 million to the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
for Double-A minor league catcher Austin Bossart. In 2019 with the Phillies, Vargas was 1–4 with a 5.37 ERA, and in 11 starts he pitched 55.1 innings. Vargas became a free agent following the season on November 4, 2019.
Pitches
Vargas throws four pitches: a
two-seam and four-seam 85 mph
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. " Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thr ...
, a 71 mph
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curv ...
, and a 79 mph
changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
.
Personal life
Vargas married his high school sweetheart, Shelly. They have three children.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vargas, Jason
1983 births
Living people
Florida Marlins players
New York Mets players
Seattle Mariners players
Los Angeles Angels players
Kansas City Royals players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Cypress Chargers baseball players
Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball players
LSU Tigers baseball players
Jamestown Jammers players
Greensboro Bats players
Greensboro Grasshoppers players
Jupiter Hammerheads players
Carolina Mudcats players
Albuquerque Isotopes players
New Orleans Zephyrs players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Salt Lake Bees players
Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Arizona League Royals players
Omaha Storm Chasers players
Las Vegas 51s players
Baseball players from California
Major League Baseball pitchers
American baseball players of Mexican descent
American League All-Stars
American League wins champions
People from Hesperia, California
Leones del Escogido players
American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
People from Apple Valley, California
Sportspeople from San Bernardino County, California
People from Victorville, California
Binghamton Rumble Ponies players
Brooklyn Cyclones players
Peoria Saguaros players