Kennys

Vargas

The 32-year-old slugger hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since the 2017 season with the Twins. He spent the past two seasons in the Mexican League, most recently slashing .324/.462/.566 with 17 homers and 65 RBI in 85 games. He’ll add depth at the first base position for the Reds.

Vargas spent last season in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The 29-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2017. Vargas did not receive an invitation to the major league side of camp, so he’s set to begin 2020 in the minors.

Vargas, 28, spent the entire 2018 season with Triple-A Rochester while batting .240/.326/.425 with 21 home runs and 73 RBI over 130 games. He appeared in 236 games with the Twins from 2014-2017 and never really panned out as hoped, but he would seem to be a good candidate to find success overseas.

Vargas, 23, batted .267/.344/.468 with 19 home runs and 93 RBI over 125 games this past season. He’s a switch-hitter with some power potential, so the Twins elected to add him to the 40-man roster.

Kennys Vargas will start at first base and bat fifth versus Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz. There is no DH available in the game at Atlanta’s Turner Field.

Left-hander Adalberto Mejia was called up in the corresponding move. Vargas got off to a hot start with Minnesota but has slumped badly since the All-Star break (.206 in 68 second-half at-bats). The 26-year-old should have a chance to redeem himself when rosters expand next much.

Vargas has been terrific, but with Miguel Sano seeing most of his time at DH lately, there just hasn’t been a lot of room for him. It’s a particularly big problem now that Trevor Plouffe is back, since the Twins aren’t willing to simply bench Plouffe (even though they probably should). As a result, Vargas and his 1.040 OPS will likely be out of the lineup more often than not.

Both hits were doubles. In the five games since being called up from Triple-A, Vargas has hit .467/.556/1.200 with two home runs in 18 trips to the plate. He had a terrible spring training and got off to a slow start in the minors but has hit well of late. The Twins won’t be able to take him out of the lineup until he cools off.

He’s sit against lefty Cole Hamels. Kennys Vargas is at first base.

Minnesota will hope Vargas can provide a spark of power with Trevor Plouffe landing on the disabled list in a corresponding roster move due to a cracked rib. Vargas was batting .255/.353/.435 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI through 82 games this season in Triple-A. He may have some AL-only fantasy appeal, but we wouldn’t expect much in the way of consistent production.