Dodgers Skake Up Their Infield With Demotion

He came into the season as a top prospect and favored to land an everyday role in the Los Angeles Dodgers infield. But after hitting just .195 with a .672 OPS, with very little power and very little speed, Miguel Vargas has been optioned to the minors.

Vargas played largely at second base this season, but with veteran Chris Taylor coming off the injured list after the All-Star break next week, and with Mookie Betts already having played plenty of middle infield, including six games in eight days this month, the Dodgers should be covered with Vargas's absence. 

Manager Dave Roberts explained the Vargas demotion thusly: “There’s a piece of winning here, and there’s also a piece of putting his mind where it needs to be because clearly right now he’s pressing. He’s never struggled like this." 

The Dodgers have optioned Miguel Vargas

He’s hitting .195 on the season and .079 over his last 23 games

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) July 9, 2023

The 23-year-old had just three extra-base hits in his last 65 at-bats and has batted just .079 in his last 23 games. Yikes. Vargas clearly needs a reset back down in Triple-A. Last season at that level, the Cuban-born utilityman hit .304 with a .915 OPS, with plenty of sock (17 HR in 113 games) and speed (16 SBs). We'll see if he can recapture the magic at Oklahoma City. 

The Dodgers are currently just half a game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for top spot in the NL West Division. 

Photo: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports