Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Scuffling since streak
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Vargas went 0-for-4 in Monday's 1-0 win over Texas.
Vargas, who opened the season with a 24-game hitting streak, was held hitless for a second consecutive game and is just 5-for-36 (.139) in the nine games since the hit streak ended. A regression was to be expected, but that won't cost him the starting job at first base. The Diamondbacks announced Monday that Carlos Santana aggravated his adductor injury Sunday and will not be returning this week to challenge Vargas for playing time.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Scores twice in win
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Vargas went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Mets.
Vargas was involved in the offense for a second straight game after driving in both runs in Saturday's 2-0 win. The utility infielder is expected to stick at first base even with the pending activation of Carlos Santana (thigh). Vargas is slashing .341/.366/.571 with six home runs, a team-high 24 RBI and 21 runs scored over 32 games.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Hitting streak comes to end
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Vargas went 0-for-4 in Saturday's loss to the Cubs.
Arizona's offense was limited to four hits and zero runs by Chicago, so Vargas certainly wasn't the only Diamondback to have a quiet day at the plate. The veteran infielder entered the game with three straight multi-hit performances and a 24-game hitting streak to open the campaign, and he's still slashing a robust .388/.412/.673 overall, so Saturday's hitless effort shouldn't dim what has been an out-of-nowhere torrid start.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Extends streak with four-hit game
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Vargas went 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Cubs.
While Arizona wasn't able to take advantage of having Vargas on base every time through the order, it was still another impressive effort from the 34-year-old switch hitter. Vargas has hit safely in 24 straight games to begin the campaign, tied for the second-longest streak within a single season in Diamondbacks history with Tony Womack in 2000, and his overall streak stands at 27 games dating back to the end of last year -- putting him within striking distance of matching or exceeding Luis Gonzalez's club-record streak of 30 games, set in 1999. Vargas is slashing a stunning .404/.429/.702 so far in 2026 with 14 extra-base hits, including six homers to already tie his career high, along with 19 runs and 21 RBI.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Huge offensive performance in win
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Vargas went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a three-RBI triple, a double and two additional runs scored in Sunday's victory over San Diego.
Vargas was a catalyst in Arizona's come-from-behind win, launching a solo homer in the sixth inning before adding a three-run triple in the eighth inning to extend the lead. While he fell a single shy of the cycle Sunday, the veteran journeyman has rarely come up short throughout the 2026 campaign. Vargas has never produced an OPS+ above 100 in a season since debuting in 2017, yet he's slashing an eye-popping .367/.383/.722 with six homers, 20 RBI and 18 runs through 20 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Moves to short Saturday
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Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Padres.
Vargas extended his season-opening hit streak to 19 games (.351/.368/.649) with a second-inning single. He later moved to shortstop when Geraldo Perdomo (ankle) was removed in the seventh inning. Either Vargas or Jose Fernandez could fill in for Perdomo, if the injury prevents him from playing Sunday.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Lifts pair of homers
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Vargas went 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in Wednesday's 11-7 win over the White Sox.
Vargas made an early impact with a three-run blast in the second inning followed by a two-run homer in the third. He's launched three homers over the last two games and has extended his season-opening hit streak to 17 contests. Vargas is batting a remarkable .364 with a 1.079 OPS, five homers, 16 RBI, 14 runs scored, five doubles, one triple and no stolen bases. He has taken over as Arizona's primary first baseman while Carlos Santana (thigh) is on the injured list, though Vargas' hot start should secure him an everyday place in the lineup for the near future, regardless of position.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Lashes homer in loss
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Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 11-5 loss to the White Sox.
Vargas connected on a sinker that didn't sink for a three-run home run in the ninth inning. It was his third homer of the season and extended a season-opening hit streak to 16 games. Batting .361 with a 1.004 OPS, Vargas is punching well above his weight; the utility infielder owns a career average of .254 and OPS of .664.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Still filling in at keystone
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Vargas started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Vargas made a third consecutive start at second base, as Ketel Marte served as the designated hitter again while nursing a minor back issue. Vargas has hit safely in all 14 games he's played to start the season, going 20-for-53 (.377) with eight extra-base hits (two home runs), eight RBI and 11 runs. Once Marte is ready to handle defensive duties, Vargas can still find opportunities at first base with both Pavin Smith (elbow) and Carlos Santana (thigh) on the shelf.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Idle Saturday
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Vargas isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Philadelphia.
Vargas has logged a hit in each of the first eight games he's played in to begin the year, but he'll move to the bench Saturday after making four consecutive starts. Jose Fernandez will replace him at first base and bat fifth.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Fills in at 1B
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Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-5 in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Mets.
Vargas got the first crack at first base after the Diamondbacks placed Carlos Santana (adductor) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Arizona called up Luken Baker to replace Santana, adding another body to a rotation of players that could see time with both Santana and Pavin Smith (elbow) sidelined. in addition to Vargas and Baker, the Diamondbacks could deploy Jose Fernandez and Tim Tawa at first base.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Enters for injured teammate
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Vargas entered Sunday's game after first baseman Carlos Santana was removed due to a groin injury. Vargas went 1-for-2 with a walk, a triple and two RBI in a 6-5 extra-inning win over Atlanta.
Santana was done for the day in the second inning, and the two players that might normally have filled in at first base -- Jose Fernandez or Tim Tawa -- were already in the starting lineup. As such, manager Torey Lovullo turned to Vargas, who gave Arizona a lift. He tripled in two runs in his first plate appearance in the fourth inning and has hit safely in all four games in which he's played, going 6-for-11 with three extra-base hits and four RBI. Now that both Pavin Smith (elbow) and Santana are on the shelf, manager Torey Lovullo will roll with a rotation at first base that includes Vargas, Fernandez and Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Serves as DH
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Vargas went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 9-6 win over Detroit.
Vargas started at designated hitter Monday after the Diamondbacks placed Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list. The switch-hitting Vargas got the assignment against a right-hander, although manager Torey Lovullo typically likes to rotate bodies through the DH spot. Vargas is more experienced at second and third base, but he has played 14 games at first base during his career and could be part of the rotation there along with Carlos Santana and Tim Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Expected to make roster
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Vargas is expected to be on Arizona's Opening Day roster, after the team reassigned Jacob Amaya to minor-league camp Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The Amaya transaction seemingly resolves the roster fates of Vargas, Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa. Vargas received the news well Sunday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a Cactus League contest against the Padres. He's batting .378 (17-for-45) with four doubles, two homers and nine RBI over 15 spring games. He's expected to serve as a backup utility infielder along with Tawa, who will also find time in the outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back with D-backs on minors deal
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Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas spent most of his time at Triple-A Reno this past season but still managed to appear in 38 games for the D-backs, during which he slashed .270/.292/.383 with 19 RBI and 12 runs scored. He'll officially return to the organization to begin the 2026 campaign, although he's expected to remain an organizational depth piece.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Vargas is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Dodgers.
Vargas had started each of the previous four contests at first base, but he'll begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Tim Tawa is handling first base and batting eighth for the Diamondbacks in the series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Supplies winning hit
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Vargas started at first base and went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.
Vargas delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the sixth inning to plate the eventual game-winning run. Since Pavin Smith (quadriceps) and Tyler Locklear (elbow) landed on the injured list, Vargas has helped fill the void at first base, making five starts there in Arizona's last 11 games. He's hit safely in 10 of his last 11 appearances (nine starts), going 12-for-35 (.343) with one home run and eight RBI during that stretch.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Resting Saturday
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Vargas isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota.
After collecting a base hit in each of his last four games, Vargas will receive a day to rest while Tim Tawa starts at first base for the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Not in Wednesday's lineup
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Vargas is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in San Francisco.
Vargas started the previous two games at first base as the Diamondbacks scramble to fill the position following injuries to Pavin Smith (quadriceps) and Tyler Locklear (elbow), but Vargas will take a seat in Wednesday's series finale. Tim Tawa is handling first base and batting eighth as Arizona tries to avoid the sweep.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Handles first base
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Giants.
Vargas received the start at first base in the first game without the injured Tyler Locklear (elbow), who placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. The Diamondbacks are now without their top two first basemen, as Locklear joins Pavin Smith (quadriceps) on the IL. Arizona is expected to get by with a combination of Vargas, Tim Tawa and James McCann.
