Kennys Vargas

Kennys Vargas Gautier (born August 1, 1990), nicknamed "Gorilla",[1][2] is a Puerto Rican professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vargas and the second or maternal family name is Gautier.
Kennys Vargas
Vargas with the Minnesota Twins in 2017
Free agent
Designated hitter / First baseman
Born: (1990-08-01) August 1, 1990
Canóvanas, Puerto Rico
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 1, 2014, for the Minnesota Twins
NPB: March 29, 2019, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average.252
Hits197
Home runs35
Runs batted in116
NPB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.179
Home runs1
Runs batted in6
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Puerto Rico
World Baseball Classic
2017 Los AngelesNational team

Vargas has been compared to David Ortiz due to their similarities in size. Vargas stands 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall and weighs about 275 pounds.[3][4][5]

Early life

Vargas was born in the municipality of Canóvanas, already being larger than the average local population with a length of 22 and a half inches and a weight of ten pounds.[6] He was raised by his mother, teacher Elsa Gautier, who was divorced by the time that he was three years old and was left in charge of all his sustenance.[6] During his youth, the family lived near a baseball park, where he joined his brother Jeronys and learned the game by the time that he was four.[6] After beginning in the district of Río Piedras, Vargas continued playing in his native Canóvanas.[6] Due to his size, he also played basketball during his school years, but at the urging of his mother (who saw potential for him to go professional) he selected baseball.[6] In the process, Vargas declined an invitation to a major high school basketball tournament in 10th grade.[6] Now invested in developing as a baseball player, he requested a trip to watch the New York Yankees play for his 15th birthday.[6] After going undrafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, Vargas decided to enroll in an independent baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, where he spent the following months until the Minnesota Twins invited him to an evaluation.[6] In February 2009, the organization signed him as an amateur free agent with a signing bonus that neared $100,000.[6]

Career

Minnesota Twins

Vargas made his professional debut in 2009 with the Gulf Coast Twins. He also played for the Gulf Coast Twins in 2010. Vargas played the 2011 season with the Elizabethton Twins. He was hitting .322/.377/.489 with six home runs over 44 games, when he was suspended 50 games for a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[7] After his suspension was over in 2012 he played for the Beloit Snappers. In 41 games he had 11 home runs and a 1.030 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Vargas played for the Fort Myers Miracle in 2013.[8] In 125 games he hit 19 home runs. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.[9] Vargas started the 2014 season with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats.[10] In July he played in the All-Star Futures Game.[11][12]

Vargas made his MLB debut on August 1, 2014,[13] and hit his first career home run off Jesse Hahn five days later, on August 6, leading the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Padres.[14] Vargas wound up finishing the season as the Twins designated hitter, hitting 9 home runs with 38 rbi's in 53 games.

In the 2015 season, Vargas began the season as the Twins designated hitter although he was sent down a month later after a poor start. He was called up later in the season. Vargas finished his 2015 season with a .240 AVG in 58 games.

Vargas was named the American League's Player of the Week for the week of July 4 to July 10, 2016.[15] After excelling at the AAA level, Vargas was given another shot for extended playing time for the Twins. He split time between designated hitter and first base. He finished with a .230 AVG in 47 games with 10 home runs.

In 2017, Vargas started the season in Triple A, but was once again called up at the end of April. In the offseason he trained alongside former major League players Carlos Delgado, José ‘Tony’ Valentín, and Manny Ramírez.[16] He also played again with the Indios de Mayagüez in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rico's baseball professional league.

On March 16, 2018, Vargas was designated for assignment by the Twins.

Cincinnati Reds

On March 22, Vargas was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.[17]

Minnesota Twins (second stint)

On March 24, the Twins re-acquired Vargas by claiming him off waivers from the Reds, without Vargas appearing in an MLB game with the Reds.[18] He was outrighted to AAA Rochester to start the 2018 season. Vargas elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Chiba Lotte Marines

On November 6, 2018, Vargas signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[19] On November 30, Marines announced that team would not sign Vargas for the next season.[20] Two days later, he became a free agent.[21]

Detroit Tigers

On January 27, 2020, Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[22] Vargas was released by the Tigers organization on July 7, 2020.

International career

Vargas played for the Puerto Rico national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic where he won a silver medal.[23]

References
  1. "ニックネーム". 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト　「マリンフェスタ」特設サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  2. "Monday Morning Minnesota: Discipline, Improvements, Gorilla Tattoos". May 22, 2017.
  3. "Twins prospect Vargas might best be called 'Bigger Papi'". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  4. "» Twinsights: Eddie Guardado has flashbacks watching Kennys Vargas". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  5. "Ortiz-clone Vargas getting valuable experience - FOX Sports". March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  6. Carlos Rosa Rosa (February 5, 2016). "Fanática número uno de Kennys Vargas" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  7. "Twins' Minor Leaguer suspended for 50 games". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  8. MIRACLE, INK.: Clowning around for Kennys Vargas when it comes to tattoos
  9. "Minnesota Twins add four players to 40-man roster". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  10. "Twins' prospect Vargas showing some pop". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  11. "Minnesota Twins prospcts Jose Berrios and Kennys Vargas were named to the Futures Game roster". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  12. "Twins: Kennys Vargas next in line for Futures Game invitation – Twin Cities". June 22, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  13. "Vargas makes big league debut for Twins". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  14. "Padres vs. Twins - 08/05/14". Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  15. "Can the MN Twins make headway in second half? Yes, they can". July 14, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  16. http://www.primerahora.com/deportes/beisbol/nota/kennysvargasllegoparaquedarse-1221419/ Kennys Vargas llegó para quedarse (In Spanish)
  17. Todd, Jeff (March 22, 2018). "Reds Claim Kennys Vargas". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  18. Morse, Dustin (March 24, 2018). "The Twins have claimed Kennys Vargas off waivers from the Reds". Minnesota Twins. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  19. "ケニス・バルガス選手 獲得について". 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 6, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  20. "レイビン投手・ブランドン投手・ボルシンガー投手・バルガス選手 来季契約について". 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 30, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  21. "2019年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  22. Beck, Jason (January 27, 2020). "Tigers roll dice on former Twins slugger". MLB.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  23. Thornburg, Chad (February 8, 2017). "Young stars join Beltran, Yadi for Puerto Rico". MLB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
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