No. 17: Marco Vargas, INF
B/T: L/R Age: 19 (05/14/2005)
Ht: 6’0″ Weight: 170
Acquired: Trade with Miami for David Robertson in 2023
ETA: 2028
2024 Stats: Single-A St. Lucie: .208/.369/.239, 168 PA, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 4 2B, 13 SB (2 CS), 38 SO, 34 BB
Overview
The Miami Marlins saw Marco Vargas‘ potential early, signing the Mexican prospect as a 17-year-old in 2022. His signing bonus was just under $18,000. Vargas was immediately sent to the Dominican Summer League, where he thrived in Miami’s rookie system. Over a year and a half with Miami’s rookie teams, he slashed .305/.431/.450 before being included in the trade that sent David Robertson to the Marlins. Once he joined the Mets, he received a call-up to Single-A St. Lucie.
Vargas is regarded for his exceptional plate discipline, especially for his age. With the Mets last year, he drew 34 walks in 168 plate appearances (20.2%), contributing to a strong .369 OBP. Beyond his patience, he’s also among the better bat-to-ball hitters in the organization, striking out just 38 times while swinging and missing 5.3% of the time.
Marco Vargas. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO
However, the jump from rookie ball to A-ball proved challenging for the 19-year-old. After hitting .275/.432/.389 in 2023—mostly at the rookie level—Vargas struggled in 2024, posting a .208/.369/.239 line. His development was also slowed by four injuries, limiting him to 168 plate appearances. Power is a concern, as he has yet to hit a home run in a Mets uniform. He also showed minimal doubles pop (4 doubles) in Single-A last year, hence his .239 slugging percentage.
Fortunately, Vargas is still only 19 and has plenty of room to grow. Listed at 5’11” and 170 pounds, natural physical development should help guide his progression. On top of that, he could benefit from elevating the ball more—he hit fly balls just 25.8% of the time last year. With improved lift on the baseball, he should see more doubles and, eventually, some balls leaving the yard.
Defensively, he’s not flashy, but he can hold his own, as he’s at least an average fielder. The Mets have tested him at every infield spot except first base, but his arm strength likely makes second the best fit for him. He’s also far from elite in terms of speed. Most outlets (including Baseball Savant) rate him as reasonably fast, but his stolen bases are more a product of his game sense than pure foot speed, according to Savant.
Early in 2024, Savant graded Vargas’ best tools on the 20-80 scale as hit (60), with arm and field (50) tied for second. They rated his pre-2024 power at 40, which is concerning given his further regression in the power department last season. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs‘ player comp for Vargas is former Phillies infielder César Hernández.
2025 Outlook
Barring a breakout season, Vargas likely won’t reach even High-A Brooklyn until 2026. His struggles after leaving the FCL are worrisome. However, it’s important to remember that he’s still over two years younger than the average hitter in Single-A, giving him time to adjust. His focus in St. Lucie will be to improve his power output, whether through adding strength and mass, making new swing adjustments, or trying to better elevate the ball. If he can tap into some extra-base pop, he’ll have a much clearer path forward in the Mets’ farm system.
Previous Ranking: No. 18 RHP Nate Dohm
