Miguel Vargas Breakout Campaign Fuels White Sox Resurgence

by William Gilhooly

Sportz Nation - 6/4/2026

Photo Credits to Matt Dirsken/Getty Images

Everyone has seen the video by now.

On July 29, 2024, Miguel Vargas was traded from the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago White Sox, who would go on to set the modern MLB record with 121 losses.

When Vargas joined the White Sox, the club was already in the midst of a 15-game losing streak. In his first five games with Chicago, he struggled at the plate, recording just two hits in 20 at-bats.

Then came August 5th. The White Sox lost their 21st consecutive game, with Vargas going 1/4 from the plate. After the game, Vargas appeared visibly emotional in the dugout as teammates walked by and he stared into the distance.

His struggles continued through the remainder of the 2024 season. Vargas hit .104 and posted a -1.0 WAR in 42 games with the White Sox. His 2025 campaign was more productive, but he still finished as a below-average hitter with a .717 OPS.

At that point, it appeared Vargas' most memorable moment with the organization might be the viral video from that night at the Oakland Coliseum. Two years later and that is no longer the case.

Vargas has emerged as one of baseball's breakout stars in 2026 and has made a strong case as one of the American League's top third basemen. Through 60 games, Vargas has already surpassed his 2025 WAR total of 1.9, posting a 2.3 WAR that leads all AL third basemen. He also leads AL third basemen in home runs (15), RBIs (41) and walks (40), while ranking second in OPS at .870.

Much of Vargas' success can be traced to adjustments he made during the offseason. He raised his hand position in his stance, creating a flatter bat path that allows him to stay on plane with the baseball longer. Vargas has also dramatically improved his plate discipline, ranking in the 98th percentile in chase rate and the 91st percentile in walk rate.

"It's impressive; you see it every night," White Sox manager Will Venable said when asked about Vargas' approach at the plate. "He's extremely consistent in how he approaches his preparation. It's showing up on the field. Obviously, he feels really good and confident up there, and he continues to give himself a chance."

Vargas has also played a key role in helping establish a new culture within a White Sox clubhouse that has become one of baseball's early-season surprises. Chicago added 24 new players during the offseason, and Vargas has been a central figure in helping those newcomers adjust.

"Having the experience of coming to a new clubhouse, you want to make sure everyone feels welcome and comfortable," Vargas said. "When I got here, Luis [Robert] made a big impact on that for me. I just want to make everybody around me feel the same."

That shift in clubhouse culture has helped fuel a dramatic turnaround for a franchise that lost 223 games over the previous two seasons. The White Sox reached the 30-win mark on May 29, a milestone they did not achieve until Aug. 16 in 2024 and July 5 in 2025.

Whether the turnaround is the result of Venable's influence, or a magic wand purchased by reliever Jordan Leasure, there is little question that something has changed on the South Side.

And while the White Sox' resurgence remains one of baseball's biggest stories; Vargas'

breakout season has become one of its defining developments.

-Will Gilhooly