Jason Vargas
Encyclopedia
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
for the Seattle Mariners
. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins
, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets
and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners
.
's Minnesota Twins
with the 1,273rd pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
. Jason declined and decided to go to Louisiana State University
. As a freshman at LSU, Vargas went 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA
in 13 games. However, Vargas decided to transfer out of LSU after the 2001 season to Cypress College
for the season, picking a junior college so he would still be eligible for the draft. He was the Southern California junior college player of the year for his work on the mound and at the plate. However, as the season wore on, his arm slot dropped; and his velocity fell into the mid-80s. That, combined with Vargas' signing bonus demands, depressed his draft stock, so he went undrafted.
Vargas headed to Long Beach State for his senior year. He liked the school's history of producing major league talent and liked the school's hard-nosed mentality even more, especially after getting a recommendation from J.J. Newkirk, who played for Vargas's father, Joe, at Victor Valley High School
. Vargas arrived at LBSU with a new work ethic determined to improve upon his year at Cypress College. Vargas also proved a fast learner. At Long Beach, he learned to keep his top half aligned with his lower half over the rubber and not drift toward the plate as he twisted through his delivery. The tweak allowed Vargas to repeat his mechanics and keep his arm higher, which in turn increased the velocity on his fastball and improved the break on his curveball. The new work ethic paid off, and in Vargas went 7-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 18 games on the mound, while hitting .354 with 14 doubles
and five home run
s as the team's designated hitter
.
Jason attributes most of his success in baseball to the self-proclaimed "Goo-Roo", Travis Heinemann (Kirkwood, MO), who once tossed a perfect game in tee ball. After a long conversation with Travis, Jason Vargas helped his Mariners pull off an exciting 5-4 victory last night at Target Field. His long time buddy, Travis, encouraged him to just keep the ball down and that's exactly what he did. Jason has one more start next week as the Mariners wrap up their season.
, who was the Anaheim Angels
' first-round pick in 2004. Vargas was the 68th player taken overall in the draft. He signed with the Marlins in time to make eight starts with their Low A affiliate, the Jamestown Jammers
, with whom he went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.96. He finished 2004 with three starts at the end of the 2004 campaign with one of the Marlins' Single-A affiliates, the Greensboro Grasshoppers
of the South Atlantic League
. He had a record of 2-1, an ERA of 2.37, and struck out
17 batters in 19 innings pitched.
Vargas was then promising enough that Baseball America
listed him 8th among the Marlins' top 10 prospects for ; those above him were Jeremy Hermida
, Scott Olsen
, Yorman Bazardo
, Jason Stokes
, Josh Willingham
, Eric Reed
, and Taylor Tankersley
. Baseball America predicted that Vargas would start the season in Greensboro and finish it in High A with the Jupiter Hammerheads
; Vargas would very easily surpass that expectation during the 2005 season.
Vargas did start the 2005 season with Greensboro, as was expected, but he advanced quickly through the Marlins' minor-league system. He made five starts with Greensboro, going 4-1 with an earned run average
of just 0.80. He was then promoted to Jupiter, where he went 2-3 with a 3.42 ERA in nine starts; while there, he struck out 60 batters in 55 1/3 innings. With his third club of the year, the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
, he made three starts, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.
The Marlins noticed Vargas's success in the minor leagues and, when faced with injuries to their own pitching staff, decided to make him the fourth Mudcats pitcher to play in the major leagues in 2005 (the others were Logan Kensing
, Olsen, and Bazardo). He made his major-league debut on July 14, 2005, the same day on which the Marlins designated veteran starter Al Leiter
for assignment. His first start in the majors would come on July 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Unlike Kensing, Olsen, and Bazardo, Vargas enjoyed nearly immediate success upon his arrival in the major leagues, and after Ismael Valdéz
returned from a leg injury, the Marlins moved Brian Moehler
to the bullpen and left Vargas in their rotation. On August 21, Vargas started against the Dodgers and pitched his first complete game in the majors, giving up one run on six hits and striking out seven. He finished the season with a record of 5-5 and a 4.03 ERA. Vargas received one third-place vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America
in the 2005 MLB Rookie of the Year
voting.
Vargas started the season in the Marlins' starting rotation, but he struggled there; in five starts, he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA, 20 walks
, and 14 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. For the month of May, the Marlins moved him to the bullpen, where he gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings over his first three appearances. In his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 3 1/3 innings; the Marlins optioned him to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
on May 14. Vargas started improving with Albuquerque, going 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in seven starts and earning another promotion to the major leagues on July 6.
However, over his next three games with the Marlins, all in relief, Vargas allowed 13 runs (12 earned), four home runs, and five walks in 10 1/3 innings; he struck out five batters. The Marlins sent him back to Albuquerque on July 29, where he stayed for the rest of Albuquerque's season. Vargas continued to struggle in his second stint with Albuquerque, allowing 38 earned runs on 56 hits in 31 1/3 innings.
The Marlins did not call him up again in 2006 after the major-league rosters expanded in September. Overall, Vargas went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA for the Marlins and 3-6 with a 7.43 ERA for the Isotopes in 2006.
. Vargas began the season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
, compiling a 2-3 record with a 5.30 ERA which Mets manager Willie Randolph
described as "so-so".
He was called up to the Mets on May 13 after an injured Moisés Alou
was sent to the disabled list
, and took over the rotation spot previously held by Mike Pelfrey, who was in return optioned to New Orleans after posting an 0-5 record in 6 outings. His first outing as a Met was on May 17, a no decision in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs
.
Vargas, had a bone spur removed from his elbow
in October, and had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip on March 17, 2008.
in a three-team trade between the Mets, Mariners and the Cleveland Indians
.
Vargas was optioned down to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
on July 7, to make roster room for Chris Shelton. As of September 4 Vargas is 3-6 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 appearances, 14 starts for the Mariners.
On September 1 Vargas was called up to the Majors along with Tacoma teammate Mike Carp
. He was 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA in nine starts with Tacoma.
Vargas started the 2010 Mariner season in the squad's starting rotation, and through June has proven to be one of the most surprising success stories on the troubled Seattle team's roster. Through 14 starts he has posted a 6-2 record over 91.1 innings, with a 2.66 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 23 walks.
By the end of the season Vargas had thrown in 192 innings, and posted a 9-12 record with a 3.78 ERA and 116 strikeouts.
, changeup
, and slider
. His changeup has been regarded as his best pitch. He has also been praised for mixing his pitches well.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
.
College years
Vargas was drafted by Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
with the 1,273rd pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. Jason declined and decided to go to Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. As a freshman at LSU, Vargas went 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 13 games. However, Vargas decided to transfer out of LSU after the 2001 season to Cypress College
Cypress College
Cypress College is a community college located in Cypress, California. Opened on September 12, 1966 , the southern California college offers a variety of general education , transfer courses , and 141 vocational programs leading to Associate's degrees and certificates.-Overview:Cypress College's...
for the season, picking a junior college so he would still be eligible for the draft. He was the Southern California junior college player of the year for his work on the mound and at the plate. However, as the season wore on, his arm slot dropped; and his velocity fell into the mid-80s. That, combined with Vargas' signing bonus demands, depressed his draft stock, so he went undrafted.
Vargas headed to Long Beach State for his senior year. He liked the school's history of producing major league talent and liked the school's hard-nosed mentality even more, especially after getting a recommendation from J.J. Newkirk, who played for Vargas's father, Joe, at Victor Valley High School
Victor Valley High School
Victor Valley High School is located in Victorville, California at 16350 Mojave Drive and is the oldest high school in the Victor Valley Union High School District .School principal: Chris DouglassMascot: Jackrabbits...
. Vargas arrived at LBSU with a new work ethic determined to improve upon his year at Cypress College. Vargas also proved a fast learner. At Long Beach, he learned to keep his top half aligned with his lower half over the rubber and not drift toward the plate as he twisted through his delivery. The tweak allowed Vargas to repeat his mechanics and keep his arm higher, which in turn increased the velocity on his fastball and improved the break on his curveball. The new work ethic paid off, and in Vargas went 7-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 18 games on the mound, while hitting .354 with 14 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s as the team's designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
Jason attributes most of his success in baseball to the self-proclaimed "Goo-Roo", Travis Heinemann (Kirkwood, MO), who once tossed a perfect game in tee ball. After a long conversation with Travis, Jason Vargas helped his Mariners pull off an exciting 5-4 victory last night at Target Field. His long time buddy, Travis, encouraged him to just keep the ball down and that's exactly what he did. Jason has one more start next week as the Mariners wrap up their season.
Professional career
The Florida Marlins drafted Vargas out of Long Beach State with their second-round pick in the 2004 MLB Draft and signed by scout Robby Cosaro; he was a collegiate teammate of Jered WeaverJered Weaver
Jered David Weaver , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...
, who was the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
' first-round pick in 2004. Vargas was the 68th player taken overall in the draft. He signed with the Marlins in time to make eight starts with their Low A affiliate, the Jamestown Jammers
Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
, with whom he went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.96. He finished 2004 with three starts at the end of the 2004 campaign with one of the Marlins' Single-A affiliates, the Greensboro Grasshoppers
Greensboro Grasshoppers
The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a minor league baseball team in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. He had a record of 2-1, an ERA of 2.37, and struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
17 batters in 19 innings pitched.
Vargas was then promising enough that Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
listed him 8th among the Marlins' top 10 prospects for ; those above him were Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Ryan Hermida is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.-Early career:...
, Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
, Yorman Bazardo
Yorman Bazardo
Yorman Osorio Bazardo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Florida Marlins:...
, Jason Stokes
Jason Stokes
Jason Stokes was a first baseman in the Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins organizations.As a senior for Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas, he hit 25 home runs, which still stands as the state single-season home run record. Stokes was named the Gatorade U.S...
, Josh Willingham
Josh Willingham
Joshua David Willingham is an American Major League Baseball left fielder. He has played for the Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics.-Early years:...
, Eric Reed
Eric Reed
Eric Shane Reed is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He is an alumnus of Texas A&M University...
, and Taylor Tankersley
Taylor Tankersley
Taylor Mark Tankersley is an American professional baseball player. A left-handed relief pitcher, he is currently with the New York Mets organization of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
. Baseball America predicted that Vargas would start the season in Greensboro and finish it in High A with the Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
; Vargas would very easily surpass that expectation during the 2005 season.
Vargas did start the 2005 season with Greensboro, as was expected, but he advanced quickly through the Marlins' minor-league system. He made five starts with Greensboro, going 4-1 with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of just 0.80. He was then promoted to Jupiter, where he went 2-3 with a 3.42 ERA in nine starts; while there, he struck out 60 batters in 55 1/3 innings. With his third club of the year, the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, he made three starts, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.
The Marlins noticed Vargas's success in the minor leagues and, when faced with injuries to their own pitching staff, decided to make him the fourth Mudcats pitcher to play in the major leagues in 2005 (the others were Logan Kensing
Logan Kensing
Logan French Kensing is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.-Florida Marlins:...
, Olsen, and Bazardo). He made his major-league debut on July 14, 2005, the same day on which the Marlins designated veteran starter Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....
for assignment. His first start in the majors would come on July 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Unlike Kensing, Olsen, and Bazardo, Vargas enjoyed nearly immediate success upon his arrival in the major leagues, and after Ismael Valdéz
Ismael Valdéz
Ismael Valdez Alvarez is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. His professional baseball career began at age 17 when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league organization. After a three year climb through the Dodgers farm system, Valdez made his major league debut at the age of 20...
returned from a leg injury, the Marlins moved Brian Moehler
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler is a starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the draft, who assigned him to the Niagara Falls Rapids...
to the bullpen and left Vargas in their rotation. On August 21, Vargas started against the Dodgers and pitched his first complete game in the majors, giving up one run on six hits and striking out seven. He finished the season with a record of 5-5 and a 4.03 ERA. Vargas received one third-place vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
in the 2005 MLB Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
voting.
Vargas started the season in the Marlins' starting rotation, but he struggled there; in five starts, he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA, 20 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and 14 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. For the month of May, the Marlins moved him to the bullpen, where he gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings over his first three appearances. In his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 3 1/3 innings; the Marlins optioned him to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
on May 14. Vargas started improving with Albuquerque, going 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in seven starts and earning another promotion to the major leagues on July 6.
However, over his next three games with the Marlins, all in relief, Vargas allowed 13 runs (12 earned), four home runs, and five walks in 10 1/3 innings; he struck out five batters. The Marlins sent him back to Albuquerque on July 29, where he stayed for the rest of Albuquerque's season. Vargas continued to struggle in his second stint with Albuquerque, allowing 38 earned runs on 56 hits in 31 1/3 innings.
The Marlins did not call him up again in 2006 after the major-league rosters expanded in September. Overall, Vargas went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA for the Marlins and 3-6 with a 7.43 ERA for the Isotopes in 2006.
New York Mets
On November 20, 2006, the Marlins traded Vargas to the New York Mets along with fellow starting pitcher Adam Bostick in exchange for relief pitchers Matt Lindstrom and Henry OwensHenry Owens
Henry Jay Owens is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed....
. Vargas began the season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
, compiling a 2-3 record with a 5.30 ERA which Mets manager Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
described as "so-so".
He was called up to the Mets on May 13 after an injured Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
was sent to the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, and took over the rotation spot previously held by Mike Pelfrey, who was in return optioned to New Orleans after posting an 0-5 record in 6 outings. His first outing as a Met was on May 17, a no decision in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Vargas, had a bone spur removed from his elbow
Elbow
The human elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint—the ginglymus or hinge joint in the middle of the arm. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm....
in October, and had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip on March 17, 2008.
Seattle Mariners
On December 10, , Vargas was one of seven players sent to the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in a three-team trade between the Mets, Mariners and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Vargas was optioned down to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
on July 7, to make roster room for Chris Shelton. As of September 4 Vargas is 3-6 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 appearances, 14 starts for the Mariners.
On September 1 Vargas was called up to the Majors along with Tacoma teammate Mike Carp
Mike Carp
Christopher Michael Carp is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-Professional career:...
. He was 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA in nine starts with Tacoma.
Vargas started the 2010 Mariner season in the squad's starting rotation, and through June has proven to be one of the most surprising success stories on the troubled Seattle team's roster. Through 14 starts he has posted a 6-2 record over 91.1 innings, with a 2.66 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 23 walks.
By the end of the season Vargas had thrown in 192 innings, and posted a 9-12 record with a 3.78 ERA and 116 strikeouts.
Pitches
Vargas throws three pitches: a fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, and slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
. His changeup has been regarded as his best pitch. He has also been praised for mixing his pitches well.