D-Backs’ Ildemaro Vargas is proving why persistence pays off with historic 27-game hit streak

Vargas, who re-signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason, has been in the league for 10 years and hasn’t really found a long-term home. He’s been with five different teams, including multiple stints in Arizona, before landing back with the D-Bcks midseason last year.

Now, he’s not just raking — he’s doing so more consistently than any other player in MLB.

“I haven’t changed anything,” he said to MLB Network. “I feel I haven’t done anything. I have the goodwill and respect and support from my teammates. I think that’s a fundamental part of what I’m living through, and thanking God.” (Translated from Spanish to English)

Vargas currently leads the league in batting average (.378), is third in slugging percentage (.689) and third in on-base plus slugging (1.087). What has made this stretch the most memorable is that his 27-game hit streak, which dates to last year, is now the longest hitting streak among Venezuelan-born players and the longest streak to start a season in 20 years, according to the team.

It’s not just about the streak for the Diamondbacks — it’s also the production behind it. Vargas’ hits have come when the team needs them most, to move a runner, clear the bases or take the lead. Every hit holds meaning, making the streak even more valuable than just a place in history.

For Vargas, it’s a rejuvenation of a long and tough career in the big leagues, where he only feels more comfortable each day.

“It’s not a secret my career hasn’t been easy,” he said. “I’ve been let go by five organizations in the same year. It’s my opportunity. I consider myself a fighter, a warrior, and I have never quit on following my dreams. I think I’m a guy with good energy, and that’s why I’m here. And at 34 [years old], I feel like I’m 22.” (Translated from Spanish to English)

As the season rolls on and Vargas looks to continue to extend his hit streak even further, his story has been one to watch and celebrate — how someone who has been all over the league can still find himself in the history books in the most unexpected ways.