Overlooked White Sox slugger quietly ranks among MLB’s best at his position

Imagn Images

Overlooked White Sox slugger quietly ranks among MLB’s best at his position

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Tyler Koerth | Last updated May 11, 2026 11:09 PM ET

The 2026 Chicago White Sox have made a clear statement with their power production, ranking sixth in the league with 51 home runs as a team following Mother’s Day. Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery have led the way with 15 and 10 home runs respectively, but another key contributor has been Miguel Vargas, who has added nine of his own to help fuel the lineup’s early-season success.

Now in his fifth MLB season, Vargas is coming off a career year in which he hit 16 home runs across 138 games. At his current pace, he would be tracking toward a 40-homer campaign, but much of the attention in the lineup has shifted elsewhere with the emergence of Murakami and the steady dominance of Montgomery.

Even so, a recent stretch of meaningful at-bats paired with a multi-homer game over the weekend have pushed him back into the spotlight, serving as a reminder of the damage he can do. That resurgence becomes even more apparent when comparing his production to other third basemen across the league, where his numbers continue to stack up favorably.

Overlooked Chicago White Sox slugger Miguel Vargas quietly ranks as one of MLB’s best third baseman

May 9, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Right now, only three third basemen have more home runs than Vargas this season: Junior Caminero, Max Muncy, and Kazuma Okamoto. His 22 RBIs are tied for third-most at the position, while his 28 walks rank second among all third basemen. He also owns the third-best OPS at .841, further underscoring just how productive he has been in comparison to his peers.

From an advanced metrics standpoint, Vargas has made noticeable improvements this season in both barrel rate and hard-hit percentage. He has also shown a clear increase in bat speed compared to a year ago. Combined with his continued patient approach at the plate, those gains have helped fuel his breakout season. Additionally, having multiple power threats around him in the lineup has provided extra protection and forced pitchers to challenge him more often, further contributing to his offensive surge.

While much of the attention surrounding the White Sox lineup has centered on bigger names and breakout stars, Vargas has quietly been producing all year. His combination of power, plate discipline, and improved quality of contact has placed him among the top offensive third basemen in baseball, even if he is not receiving the same level of recognition nationally.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: