After batting just .195 and knocking out 7 home runs, Miguel Vargas was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City last week.
In his first appearance in the minors this season, Vargas went 0-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Vargas was third in the lineup and started at second base. The 23-year-old had a particularly poor July, going .133/.333/.200 from the plate.
No one else but Mookie Betts, one of the most versatile players on the Dodgers, stepped into the second base role in wake of Vargas' demotion. Luckily for Betts, he enjoys playing in the infield, and might be consistently starting at second base for the rest of the season.
In 2022, Vargas impressed in Triple-A, slashing .304/.404/.511, hitting 17 home runs and batting in 82 runs in 113 games. The young infielder has struggled to convert that success to the big leagues.
“I do think [he adds to the team],” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after announcing the demotion. “But at what point do you decide that [his struggles] could be detrimental?”
(Via the Los Angeles Times)
Betts has played some of his best baseball this season when he has started at second base. When playing in the infield, he's batted .347 with a 1.171 OPS in addition to posting a plus-three in defensive runs saved over 22 games at the position, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Vargas' demotion furthered the need for the Dodgers to find a reliable right-handed hitter at the trade deadline, which Dave Roberts has confirmed.
Vargas and Triple-A Oklahoma City next play Saturday at 6:37 p.m/ PDT.
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