Drafted in the 2nd round (68th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2004 (signed for $525,000).
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Vargas has been overshadowed at Long Beach State by Jered Weaver, the projected No. 1 pick, but has commanded plenty of interest himself. In fact, his velocity has often topped Weaver's. He has been clocked up to 95 mph, a vast improvement from 2003 at Cypress JC, where his fastball ranged from 86-90. Scouts said Vargas was always capable of throwing harder, but it didn't happen until he took extra measures to tone up his 6-foot, 215-pound frame. Also an accomplished hitter, he was used more in a DH role this spring to conserve his energy. He was hitting .368-5-32 while going 7-6, 4.25 with 81 strikeouts in 97 innings on the mound. Vargas, who spent his freshman year at Louisiana State, doesn't have an especially fast arm, and there are questions whether he profiles better as a reliever or starter because he lacks a dominant second pitch. But he's a lefthander with a mid-90s fastball, and that alone should make him a sandwich pick or high second-rounder.
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Vargas was a two-way player during a circuitous college career that saw him spend a year each at Louisiana State, Cypress (Calif.) JC and Long Beach State. He's the nephew of former major league infielder Randy Velarde. Vargas has good arm strength, working at 91-94 mph with his fastball. His tight slider is a putaway pitch against lefties. His changeup has good downward action at times and could become a plus pitch. He works quickly and goes right after hitters. He has sound mechanics and command. Some scouts wonder if Vargas may wind up as a reliever because he has just one plus pitch against righthanders. Though he has a good physique, there's some concern about potential weight gain in his lower half. He tired near the end of the year after a promotion to low Class A, but that's typical for first-year players. Vargas should stay with top draft pick Taylor Tankersley, beginning 2005 back at Greensboro. If he continues to show the progress he made in his pro debut, he'll reach high Class A by season's end.
Minor League Top Prospects
Few players go from pitching in the FSL to making an impact in the major league playoff chase in the span of three months. But for those who saw Vargas pitch in Jupiter, it wasn't a complete surprise. "If you walk into the stadium late, you can't tell if he's losing 7-0 or winning 7-0. He's a real aggressive kid with a good mound presence," Palm Beach manager Pop Warner said. "He's got a really good idea of how to pitch. He reads swings great and knows how to get guys out, which is why he's in the big leagues." While Vargas' mental approach and stellar command impressed managers, his stuff also stood out. He sat between 91 and 94 mph with his fastball, showing the ability to add and subtract velocity to keep hitters off balance. His pitches seemed to pick up a little extra gear as they got close to the plate. His slider could get slurvy, but it was unhittable when it was on and he felt confident throwing it at any point in the count. His changeup is an average offering.
Jered Weaver may have overshadowed him at Long Beach State this spring, but Vargas was a two-way star for the 49ers and went in the second round to the Marlins. He gave Sanchez a run for the ERA title before he was promoted late in the year to the low Class A South Atlantic League, where he made three impressive starts. Vargas is a very polished lefthander who pounds the strike zone with his 92-93 mph fastball, then gets hitters to chase his curveball and changeup out of the zone. His mechanics are sound, giving him very good command, and he's not afraid to challenge hitters. "He'll be the quickest to the big leagues out of this league," Castillo said. "He's poised, never gets rattled, real professional."
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