GLENDALE — Final October, Miguel Vargas was at Camelback Ranch within the Dodgers’ “keep sizzling camp” simply in case he was wanted in the course of the postseason. As soon as the Dodgers had been eradicated by the D-backs within the Nationwide League Division Sequence, Vargas rushed again to his offseason house in Miami.
Vargas gave himself three days to take pleasure in high quality time with household and buddies. Then, it was proper again to work for Vargas. He was desperate to get the unhealthy style out of his mouth from not performing final season, which finally led to him getting demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis in the summertime.
“I had an unimaginable offseason,” Vargas stated in Spanish. “I talked to my dad and brother quite a bit about failing. They helped me perceive that issues occur. Enjoying within the Majors final season was a unique world for me. I feel I misplaced confidence in myself and I simply have to preserve believing in myself.”
A yr in the past, Vargas got here into Dodgers camp with a spot on the Main League roster. He didn’t need to undergo any type of competitors. As a result of his expertise, notably within the batter’s field, the Dodgers handed the previous prime prospect their beginning second base job.
Vargas’ season obtained off to a troublesome begin immediately, nonetheless, as he suffered a hairline fracture in his proper index finger, which restricted from swinging the bat for many of Spring Coaching. In the course of the summer season, Vargas was as soon as once more hit within the hand, creating much more stress for a younger participant.
“Coming into the spring with a damaged finger after which in the midst of the season getting hit on the hand once more, I feel that led to a variety of unhealthy habits on the plate,” Vargas stated. “I used to be coping with a variety of ache and that didn’t absolutely permit me to be myself.”
His numbers confirmed. Vargas’ hit device has lengthy been touted as the most effective within the group. His father, Lazaro, is a Cuban legend and one of many biggest hitters the island has ever seen. Hitting is a household enterprise, however Vargas struggled throughout his rookie season.
Vargas posted a .195 batting common over 256 at-bats with the Dodgers final season. As a result of his extreme struggles in the course of the summer season, Vargas was despatched down in the course of the All-Star break. He by no means made it again to the Majors final season.
As a lot as Vargas handled some bodily points final season, the psychological a part of the sport took a toll on the 24-year-old.
“It was actually powerful for me. I’ve by no means struggled like that earlier than,” Vargas stated. “Clearly, each participant’s objective is to play within the Majors. It was actually troublesome for me to simply accept that I used to be struggling that unhealthy and that I used to be getting despatched down, however issues simply didn’t go as I deliberate. My household actually helped me this offseason. They helped me perceive that failure is a part of the sport and life. I simply needed to study from that and I feel final yr made me a stronger particular person.”
Vargas has all the time been a participant that has relied on his confidence. In his Main League debut, Vargas stole third only for the easy incontrovertible fact that he “felt unstoppable.” Final season, Vargas stated that, for the primary time in his life, he misplaced the enjoyment of taking part in the sport that runs in his household.
“I wasn’t having the outcomes that I needed and I overpassed what has made me good up to now, which is simply having fun with the sport I really like,” Vargas stated. “I used to be considering of different issues.”
This spring, Vargas got here into camp as a left fielder. With Mookie Betts now the beginning second baseman, the Dodgers determined a transfer to the outfield may assist Vargas have extra alternatives to contribute on the Main League degree. Vargas labored with first-base coach Clayton McCullough over the winter and has frolicked with former Dodgers outfielder Andre Eithier this spring.
Given the truth that Vargas now must earn each alternative he will get shifting ahead, he’s simply looking forward to going out and displaying everybody he can nonetheless be a key contributor for a staff, even one as proficient because the Dodgers. And he’ll have enjoyable doing it each step of the way in which.
“Clearly whenever you’re struggling, nothing is enjoyable,” Vargas stated. “However you need to discover a method to nonetheless take pleasure in your self and never give attention to all of the negatives.”
