MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Vargas worked a full count in his third-inning at-bat against Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan.
The Chicago White Sox third baseman anticipated a fastball.
“I’m always looking fastballs,” he said afterward.
Vargas connected for a 397-foot, two-run home run to left-center, briefly tying Friday’s game at Target Field. It was his first hit since joining the Sox on Tuesday.
“Being able to tie the game with my first hit as a White Sox player was a good thing for me,” Vargas said.
While the Sox went on to lose 10-2, their 18th consecutive defeat, Vargas provided a glimpse of why the Sox were interested in the 24-year-old at the trade deadline.
“It’s good to see him get that first one out of the way, which is really important so he can take a deep breath and settle in,” manager Pedro Grifol said of the hit after the game. “This kid is going to be a good player here for a long time.”
Vargas was 0-for-9 prior to the at-bat. Friday marked his first time leading off for the Sox after he batted second in the order in his previous two games.
“It’s a new team for me,” Vargas said of his experience less than a week with the Sox. “We’re reaching for something different. At the end of the day, we go outside and play the best we can.”
Vargas came to the Sox along with minor-league infielders Alexander Albertus and Jeral Perez from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade Monday that included the St. Louis Cardinals.
A native of La Habana, Cuba, Vargas expressed an appreciation for the rich connection between the Sox and Cuban players.
“For me they are good models, they represent my country,” Vargas said Tuesday, mentioning Minnie Miñoso, José Abreu, Orlando Hernández and José Contreras.
He also has a connection to Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
“I played with Robert on the national team 10 years ago, so I’ve known him a long time,” Vargas said. “He’s one of my closest friends in baseball, so I’m happy and glad. He texted me (Monday) when I was on my way here. I was happy and excited to play with him.”
Vargas slashed .239/.313/.423 with four doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs, 11 runs and eight walks in 30 games this season with the Dodgers. He had a career .201/.294/.364 slash line with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 129 games over three seasons with the Dodgers (2022-24).
“He was heavily sought after last offseason by teams, certainly at this deadline,” general manager Chris Getz said Monday. “It’s a robust lineup they have over at the Dodgers, usually, and they weren’t able to run him out there on an everyday basis because of the type of talent that they have.
“So we’re going to get a chance to really get an idea of what he’s capable of doing, and we’re confident that he’s going to be a strong middle-of-the-lineup type hitter for us in the near future.”
As for the other members of the deal, Perez is at Class A Kannapolis while Albertus has been on the injured list since July 26 with a stress reaction in his left tibia. The injury is not considered to be serious, the Sox said, and it is anticipated he will be ready for spring training.
Albertus, 19, slashed .298/.420/.409 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 42 RBIs in 51 games this season between the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and Class A Rancho Cucamonga. He was rated the No. 23 prospect in the Dodgers system by MLB.com and is ranked at No. 14 in the Sox organization.
Perez, 19, slashed .264/.380/.420 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in 75 games with Rancho Cucamonga. An All-Star Futures Game selection, Perez was the No. 17 prospect in the Dodgers organization, according to MLB.com, and is ranked No. 13 in the Sox system.
“He can be an impactful offensive force, plays the middle infield,” Getz said. “He’s got zone control, and he’s got bat-to-ball (skills) and really loves to get after it. The makeup’s really strong there.
“(Albertus) got off to a great start in the ACL. Our scouts were raving about him. Analytically, he looks strong too.”
On Tuesday, the Sox received minor-league pitchers Jarold Rosado and Trey McGough in trades with the Kansas City Royals (for Paul DeJong) and Baltimore Orioles (for Eloy Jiménez), respectively.
The right-handed Rosado had a 1.85 ERA and four saves in 27 relief appearances with Class A Columbia. The 21-year-old had a 0.44 ERA over his last 14 outings since May 26. Class A Winston-Salem activated Rosado on Thursday.
The left-handed McGough had a 1.99 ERA and two saves in 28 relief appearances with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. The 26-year-old had a 1.35 ERA with 21 strikeouts in his last 13 appearances since June 2. Ranked the No. 18 prospect in the Sox organization, McGough went to Triple-A Charlotte.
The Sox also acquired minor-league infielder William Bergolla from the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Tanner Banks. MLB.com ranked Bergolla as the No. 11 prospect in the Phillies organization and placed him at No. 15 in the Sox system. He slashed .295/.350/.385 with 12 doubles, one home run, 29 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 67 games this season with Class A Jersey Shore.
The 19-year-old went to Winston-Salem.
“We like the offensive profile and felt like there was a really quality return on our part,” Getz said Tuesday. “You look back at the work that was accomplished here at the (trade) deadline and feel very excited about the group that we have.”
Vargas was similarly excited with the opportunity presented.
“To be able to go out there and play every day is a big thing for me,” Vargas said Friday. “I wasn’t able to do that two months ago. Having that now is a new mentality for me. I just want to bring that to here and to the team.”
