Ildemaro Vargas shown some love for his hit streak as Arizona Diamondbacks fall in latest power rankings.
Ildemaro Vargas has been hotter than a Phoenix summer day in July.
His hit streak, which came to an end at 27 games spanning two seasons, put Vargas front and center when people talked about the Arizona Diamondbacks this season.
And the Diamondbacks have put together a pretty decent start, going 15-12 in their first 27 games. While some parts of the team might look shaky at times, that's not been the case with Vargas.
In putting together their most recent MLB Power Rankings, The Athletic dropped Arizona from No. 10 to No. 13.
MLB reporter Grant Brisbee of The Athletic talked up Vargas' efforts in reviewing where the Diamondbacks are as a team right now.
"Oh, you haven’t heard of 31-year-old Vargas, the 10-year veteran who currently leads the NL in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS?" Brisbee wrote. "Hmm. You’re what we hardcore baseball observers refer to as 'a casual,' but that’s OK. You have to start somewhere.
"Just kidding, it’s perfectly acceptable to not be aware of Vargas until right now," Brisbee continued. "He’s played 478 games in the majors, but sparingly and almost exclusively in utility roles.
"He’s been on the Diamondbacks four times – they’ve sold his contract, bought his contract, released him and signed him," Brisbee wrote.
"And now he’s leading the NL in OPS. It’s not going to last (one of his Baseball-Reference similarity scores is Bill Pecota, the light-hitting infielder who was the tongue-in-cheek inspiration for the statistic), but they’re having a blast with it right now. They should be."
According to Baseball Savant data, Vargas ranks "Great" in numerous hitting categories, including batting run value, xwOBA, xwBA, xSLG, LA sweet spot, squared-up, whiff, and K percentages.
Vargas also has shown a deft ability to spray the ball all around the field, whether it's a single or a home run. That ability makes Vargas hard to pitch to for some opposing pitchers. There's not one set direction Vargas hits, such as pulling the ball all the time.
In case you missed it on Monday, Vargas was named the National League Player of the Month for March and April. That's a well-deserved honor for the well-traveled MLB player.
Here's how MLB.com talked about Vargas' start to the 2026 season.
"Amid household names and superstars, Vargas stands out," MLB.com's Jared Greenspan wrote. "He rapped a pair of hits in his first game of the season on March 30 against the Tigers, and he hasn’t slowed down since.
"Vargas entered May with a Major League-best .378 batting average as a key cog in the heart of Arizona’s lineup, recording a hit in each of his first 24 games this season," Greenspan continued.
"His 27-game hitting streak (dating back to last year) came to an end on Saturday. The 34-year-old entered 2026 touting a career .646 OPS in parts of nine Major League seasons," Greenspan wrote. "Vargas is the first D-back to win NL Player of the Month since Corbin Carroll in August 2024, and the ninth overall."
The Diamondbacks are finally back home at Chase Field starting on Tuesday night. They'll have a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After taking Monday off, the D-backs, 16-17 overall this season, will look to get back to .500.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!