An under-the-radar prospect who impressed Marlins. Plus winter ball, fall League updates
Marco Vargas isn’t a name that comes up often — or, really, ever — when top Miami Marlins prospects are discussed.
But internally, the organization is optimistic about the 17-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder who was one of their top players in the Dominican Summer League this past season and exceeded expectations given the circumstances of his signing.
As senior director of international operations Adrian Lorenzo explained it last month, the Marlins had a need to sign a few more infielders as they were firming up their Dominican Summer League rosters. The Marlins for the first time fielded two teams in the DSL, meaning they needed twice the players.
The team’s area scout who handles Mexico, Andres Guzman, identified Vargas early in the scouting process. They signed him, and the early returns were solid.
In 53 games, Vargas had a .319 batting average (the 20th-best in the DSL) with an .877 on-base-plus-slugging mark, 38 RBI (tied for 11th in the DSL), 13 doubles and 35 walks compared to 32 strikeouts. He either safely reached base or recorded an RBI in all but nine of his 53 games en route to being named a DSL Mid-Season All-Star.
“He just showed up and hit from Day 1,” Lorenzo said. “He goes off and does what he did, but the interesting thing is he he didn’t just show up and then surprise everybody. He showed up to DSL spring training and was that guy from the beginning.”
What stands out the most about Vargas to Lorenzo?
“The bat,” Lorenzo said. “A bat is a bat is a bat is a bat and his is really good. ... The combination of compact rate, impact, swing decisions, just as a total offensive performance, it’s got to be one of the better seasons that guys have had at least in this organization in recent memory at that level.”
Vargas said he started playing baseball at 9 years old in Mexico and his favorite player to watch was Francisco Lindor. He’s a natural shortstop but also played games at second and third base during his first season of pro ball — a season he called “very rewarding” when reflecting on his performance.
“You’ve got to adapt to this level,” Vargas said last month. “You can see once you get there everybody plays very well, so you have to step up. I was very comfortable and I started earning a lot of trust during the season. ... You see all the players and then you see the numbers you start putting up through the season. I put up some good numbers.”
Winter ball
Four players from the Marlins’ 40-man roster are playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, which started its season last week: infielder Jose Devers (Gigantes del Cibao), infielder Charles Leblanc (Tigres del Licey), infielder/outfielder Luke Williams (Estrellas Orientales) and outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (Aguilas Cibaenas).
There is a chance that outfielders Jesus Sanchez and Bryan De La Cruz will play for Toros del Este at some point during the season but that has not been finalized yet.
Arizona Fall League update
A quick look at how Marlins prospects are faring in the Arizona Fall League, which is entering its third of six weeks:
▪ Catcher Joe Mack has a 1.020 OPS (16th in the league) with one double, two home runs, three RBI and six runs scored over seven games.
▪ Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. has a .240 batting average and .865 OPS over seven games. Three of his six hits have gone for extra bases (one double, two home runs).
▪ Infielder Jose Salas is hitting .250 with a .721 OPS, one double, one triple, three RBI and four runs scored in eight games.
▪ Left-handed pitcher Justin Fall threw five scoreless innings in his most recent start on Saturday, which was played at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field.
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