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Chicago White Sox Midseason Awards 2026: First-Half MVP, Ace & More
Miguel Vargas
The redemption arc that peaked on the biggest stage
Miguel Vargas was a former top prospect who couldn't find a home — until Chicago threw him into the fire at third base and let him play. In 2026, the 26-year-old turned that chance into one of the best comeback stories in the sport.
Vargas hit in the heart of the order and led the White Sox with 21 home runs, a .510 slugging percentage, and a team-high 62 runs scored, becoming the primary offensive anchor for a resurgent club. The plate discipline unlocked the power; the defensive work quieted the old scouting doubts.
The arc reached its peak in Philadelphia. In his first career All-Star selection, Vargas came off the bench in the seventh inning and crushed a 433-foot home run — off Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski, a pitcher from the organization that once gave up on him. It made him just the third player in White Sox history to homer in an All-Star Game, and it tied for the third-longest All-Star home run of the Statcast era. A fitting exclamation point on a season no one saw coming.