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Portrait of Kennys Vargas

Kennys Vargas IF  

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2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 28)
PA AVG HR R RBI SB DRC+ WARP
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Birth Date8-1-1990
Height6' 5"
Weight290 lbs
Age33 years, 8 months, 18 days
BatsB
ThrowsR
-0.42015
0.02016
-0.12017
2018
-0.12019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

YEAR TEAM AGE G PA H 2B 3B HR BB SO HBP SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ DRAA BRR FRAA BWARP
2014 MIN 23 53 234 59 10 1 9 12 63 3 0 0 .274 .316 .456 98 -0.5 0.1 -0.3 0.2
2015 MIN 24 58 184 42 4 0 5 9 54 0 0 0 .240 .277 .349 74 -4.8 -1.1 0.2 -0.4
2016 MIN 25 47 177 35 11 0 10 24 57 0 0 0 .230 .333 .500 109 2.3 -1.7 -2.1 0.0
2017 MIN 26 78 264 61 13 0 11 20 77 2 0 0 .253 .314 .444 82 -5.2 1.1 0.5 -0.1
Career2368591973813565251500.252.311.43790-8.2-1.5-1.7-0.3

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G PA oppAVG oppOBP oppSLG BABIP BPF BRAA repLVL POS_ADJ DRC+ DRC+ SD FRAA BRR DRAA BWARP
2009 TWI Rk GCL 35 130 .247 .321 .352 .347 83 5.7 4.1 -2.6 107 0 3.7 -1.1 2.0 0.6
2010 TWI Rk GCL 39 160 .246 .308 .345 .434 106 8.8 5.7 -3.6 165 0 1.7 0.6 4.6 0.9
2011 ELZ Rk APP 44 191 .257 .331 .397 .420 101 8.5 6.0 -3.8 136 0 6.8 -1.3 -2.3 0.5
2012 BLT A MID 41 186 .261 .332 .400 .362 100 18.9 5.5 -3.4 176 0 0.4 -1.2 14.5 1.6
2012 MAY Wnt PWL 25 82 .000 .000 .000 .208 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2013 FTM A+ FSL 125 520 .258 .326 .374 .304 101 12.9 15.3 -9.7 128 0 -3.4 -0.9 4.9 0.6
2014 MIN MLB AL 53 234 .254 .313 .386 .340 106 4.1 6.0 -3.9 98 11 -0.3 0.1 -0.5 0.2
2014 NBR AA EAS 97 405 .259 .323 .385 .303 103 15 11.1 -7.1 138 0 6.8 -1.0 10.7 2.2
2015 MIN MLB AL 58 184 .255 .318 .406 .319 108 -8.5 5.0 -3 74 11 0.2 -1.1 -4.8 -0.4
2015 CHT AA SOU 35 151 .256 .331 .375 .333 104 11 4.1 -2.6 160 0 2.3 -0.7 6.5 1.1
2015 ROC AAA INT 38 151 .258 .317 .363 .359 94 10 4.2 -2.7 168 0 0.9 -1.0 8.4 1.0
2015 MAY Wnt PWL 28 115 .000 .000 .000 .329 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2016 MIN MLB AL 47 177 .256 .318 .426 .291 113 2 5.0 -3.2 109 12 -2.1 -1.7 2.3 0.0
2016 ROC AAA INT 96 402 .253 .317 .384 .270 101 12.2 11.3 -7.2 133 0 -2.3 -3.1 9.3 0.8
2016 MAY Wnt PWL 34 143 .000 .000 .000 .217 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2017 MIN MLB AL 78 264 .261 .331 .436 .325 110 -3.2 7.7 -4.7 82 12 0.5 1.1 -5.2 -0.1
2017 ROC AAA INT 51 211 .264 .332 .398 .305 96 8.2 6.3 -4 123 0 -2.0 -2.8 5.0 0.3
2018 ROC AAA INT 130 533 .248 .317 .384 .285 93 2.7 15.6 -10 112 0 1.4 -3.2 6.6 1.0
2018 AGU Wnt DWL 21 88 .173 .255 .230 .412 104 -1.4 1.7 -1.1 96 2 0.0 -0.1 1.9 0.2
2018 MAY Wnt PWL 15 57 .000 .000 .000 .394 97 17.4 3.2 -2.1 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Statistics For All Levels

Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
Year Team lvl LG PA AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG ISO SF SH
2009 TWI Rk GCL 130 109 12 28 7 0 3 44 18 17 34 2 0 .257 .372 .404 .147 0 0
2010 TWI Rk GCL 160 142 24 46 15 1 3 72 26 13 40 1 0 .324 .392 .507 .183 0 0
2011 ELZ Rk APP 191 174 27 56 11 0 6 85 33 15 50 0 0 .322 .377 .489 .167 1 0
2012 MAY Wnt PWL 82 72 10 13 2 0 3 24 9 10 21 0 0 .181 .280 .333 .153 0 0
2012 BLT A MID 186 154 22 49 10 1 11 94 36 28 41 0 0 .318 .419 .610 .292 3 0
2013 FTM A+ FSL 520 457 68 122 33 1 19 214 93 50 105 0 0 .267 .344 .468 .201 6 0
2014 MIN MLB AL 234 215 26 59 10 1 9 98 38 12 63 0 0 .274 .316 .456 .181 4
2014 NBR AA EAS 405 356 50 100 17 0 17 168 63 43 68 0 2 .281 .360 .472 .191 3
2015 MAY Wnt PWL 115 101 17 30 4 0 5 49 15 13 20 0 0 .297 .383 .485 .188 0 0
2015 CHT AA SOU 151 122 20 35 3 2 7 63 24 26 32 0 0 .287 .417 .516 .230 1 0
2015 MIN MLB AL 184 175 18 42 4 0 5 61 17 9 54 0 0 .240 .277 .349 .109 0 0
2015 ROC AAA INT 151 122 20 34 6 0 6 58 22 26 39 0 0 .279 .411 .475 .197 1 0
2016 MAY Wnt PWL 143 117 13 21 5 1 3 37 18 24 31 0 0 .179 .329 .316 .137 0 0
2016 MIN MLB AL 177 152 27 35 11 0 10 76 20 24 57 0 0 .230 .333 .500 .270 1 0
2016 ROC AAA INT 402 330 41 77 16 1 15 140 58 66 89 1 0 .233 .361 .424 .191 4 0
2017 MIN MLB AL 264 241 33 61 13 0 11 107 41 20 77 0 0 .253 .314 .444 .191 1 0
2017 ROC AAA INT 211 178 26 45 8 1 9 82 28 31 53 0 0 .253 .360 .461 .208 2 0
2018 MAY Wnt PWL 57 45 9 15 2 0 2 23 10 12 10 0 0 .333 .474 .511 .178 0 0
2018 ROC AAA INT 533 463 41 111 23 0 21 197 73 58 133 0 0 .240 .326 .425 .186 7 0
2018 AGU Wnt DWL 88 77 7 21 5 0 0 26 11 10 26 0 0 .273 .364 .338 .065 0 0

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr% CSAA
2014 871 0.4661 0.5281 0.7196 0.7094 0.3699 0.8819 0.4477 0.2804 0.0022
2015 720 0.4569 0.4694 0.6864 0.6322 0.3325 0.8365 0.4462 0.3136 -0.0024
2016 765 0.4654 0.4131 0.6835 0.5927 0.2567 0.7536 0.5429 0.3165 0.0000
2017 1120 0.4652 0.4545 0.6974 0.6257 0.3055 0.8466 0.4317 0.3026 0.0000
Career34760.46380.46690.69760.64080.31650.83290.46320.30240.0001

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2020 DET $
2018 MIN $
2017 MIN $540,000
2016 MIN $
2015 MIN $517,500
YearsDescriptionSalary
2 yrPrevious$1,057,500
2 yrTotal$1,057,500

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
2 y 10 dRep 1 Baseball1 year (2020)

Details
  • 1 year (2020). Signed by Detroit as a free agent 1/27/20 (minor-league contract).
  • 2019. Signed one-year contract with Chiba Lotte of Japan for about $1.5M.
  • 1 year (2018). Re-signed by Minnesota 3/18. Claimed by Cincinnati off waivers 3/22/18 after being DFA by Minnesota 3/16/18. Claimed by Minnesota off waivers from Cincinnati 3/24/18. Sent outright to Triple-A by Minnesota 3/27/18.
  • 1 year (2017). Re-signed by Minnesota 3/17.
  • 1 year (2016). Re-signed by Minnesota 3/2/16.
  • 1 year/$0.5175M (2015). Re-signed by Minnesota 3/3/15.
  • 1 year (2014). Contract selected by Minnesota 11/20/13. Re-signed by Minnesota 2/28/14.
  • Signed by Minnesota 2/25/09 as an amateur free agent from Puerto Rico. $0.8M signing bonus.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT PA R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ VORP FRAA WARP
90o 379 48 80 16 1 16 51 43 101 0 0 .242 .333 .442 106 11.6 1B -1 1.2
80o 360 44 73 14 1 15 47 39 98 0 0 .231 .319 .424 99 6.8 1B -1 0.7
70o 347 41 68 13 1 14 44 36 96 0 0 .222 .308 .408 93 3.5 1B -1 0.3
60o 336 39 65 13 1 13 41 34 94 0 0 .219 .304 .401 89 1.0 1B -1 0.0
50o 325 37 61 12 1 12 39 32 92 0 0 .212 .295 .385 85 -1.3 1B -1 -0.2
40o 314 35 58 11 1 12 37 30 90 0 0 .207 .287 .382 80 -3.4 1B -1 -0.4
30o 303 32 54 10 1 11 35 28 88 0 0 .199 .277 .365 76 -5.5 1B -1 -0.6
20o 290 30 49 10 0 10 32 26 85 0 0 .188 .266 .342 71 -7.7 1B -1 -0.9
10o 271 27 44 9 0 9 29 23 82 0 0 .180 .254 .327 63 -10.5 1B 0 -1.2
Weighted Mean32837621211340339300.213.298.39586-0.61B -1-0.1

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Kennys Vargas

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2015-10-19 19:00:00 (link to chat)Thoughts on Kennys Vargas? Worth holding onto in dynasty?
(cr787 from north)		I'm not as high on him as my colleague Craig Goldstein is (was?) but I think in a dynasty league with deeper freeze lists you can hang on. I still like the power potential and think he could latch on somewhere as a reliable if not spectacular DH option. (Tout Wars Champ Mike Gianella)
2015-01-15 18:00:00 (link to chat)Mark, thanks a bunch for the chat!! What's your opinion of Kennys Vargas and your expectations for his production in 2015.
(Jim from Minneapolis )		I'm certainly not as high on Vargas as BP's own Craig Golstein, but I do think he can contribute some in 2015. I have some reservations about him becoming more than a second division type, mostly rooted in my concerns that he will be able to handle MLB pitching night after night, but he has a solid enough approach and very real raw power, giving him a good chance to run into a few and provide some value. (Mark Anderson)
2015-01-05 15:00:00 (link to chat)Hi Jeff, could you rank Michael A. Taylor (WASH), Kennys Vargas, Jon Singleton, Danny Santana and Arismendy Alcantara for future career? Are they all crap-shoots at this point?
(ColeWhittier from Chico, CA)		Every one of those guys is a flawed player in some way, but I'll take Vargas. In this power-hungry era, I'll take the guy who has already shown an ability to hit for power at the big league level. Close second would be Arismendy, because I love the defense/athleticism/versatility and think he'll ultimately hit. (Jeff Moore)
2014-11-18 13:00:00 (link to chat)Is Kennys Vargas the real deal or just a big guy who had a hot start and will soon have his weaknesses exploited by cruel MLB pitchers??
(Mike from Minneapolis )		Some of both, but probably more of the latter, Mike. He's the epitome of a dead-red hitter-http://tinyurl.com/oqod4bk-and unless that changes, at least to some extent, he's going to strike out a whole lot, and the power won't play to its potential. (Daniel Rathman)
2014-09-10 12:00:00 (link to chat)Kennys Vargas seems to have come from off the radar screen to being a dominant run producer. Is this just a lucky introduction to MLB or do you think he has staying power? Thanks!!
(Bill from Chicago)		I have always liked Vargas. Looks more like a second division type to me, but I think there is staying-power here. Mellen had a very accurate report. I generally agree with him:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_bat.php?reportid=125 (Tucker Blair)
2014-08-25 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thoughts on Kennys Vargas' hot start and future as the Twins DH/1B?
(Ed from Minnesota)		I was asked about him earlier. His peak might be Kendrys Morales before the Morales season-ending injury. (Mike Gianella)
2014-09-03 14:00:00 (link to chat)Did you get much chance to see Kennys Vargas before he was promoted? Is his current production a surprise? What's a realistic expectation for 2015? And beyond?
(Cris E from St Paul, MN)		I saw him at the futures game. The average is a surprise, but the power is real. He's a large, large man, and could be a first division 1B, with a second division 1B as realistic floor. (Jordan Gorosh)
2014-08-29 12:00:00 (link to chat)What was your opinion of Kennys Vargas prior to his call-up, and has it changed now that you've been able to see him on a more consistent basis (on TV or live), with the obvious caveat that it's a small sample size?
(Jacob from Ga.)		I saw a little of Vargas over the winter. Hadn't heard much of him before, but the size and switch-hitting intrigued me. My concern is with the approach and the hit tool. Obviously his stats are pretty right now, particularly from the left side, but he'll need to hit for power and average to sustain those strikeout and walk rates. I know he has it in him to hit the snot out of the ball, I just want to see if he can consistently hit .250-plus. If not, I'm not sure there's enough there to start. (R.J. Anderson)
2014-09-05 13:00:00 (link to chat)Kennys Vargas has shown some pretty awesome power from both sides of the plate thus far. When he gets into one he actually makes Target Field look small. I know he's due for some regression in the babip and avg departments but his minor league numbers also suggest he should be taking more walks. On balance, can he be a .260 guy with 25 home run power at his peak?
(Peter from Florida)		I saw him for the first time at the Futures Game and wow, he has serious power. The 39-4 K-BB ratio makes it almost certain that his AVG will regress, but his minor league numbers show very solid command of the strike zone. I could see him maintaining a .280-290 average with 25 homers, or even more... with his size, he could mature into a monster. The Twins desperately needed a guy like this in the middle of their lineup. (Cory Schwartz)
2014-08-19 14:00:00 (link to chat)Kennys Vargas, Legit?
(Eric from Michigan)		Raw power is. Hit tool utility is not. (CJ Wittmann)
2014-08-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thank goodness it's Friday...Thoughts on Kennys Vargas long term? Can he be a .280, 25 homer guy?
(Bored at work from the office)		Nope, I don't think he can hit nearly that well. He's got power in spades, but I don't think he's got the contact skills to let it function at it's zenith. I think he's a .250s guy, and possibly worse than that. .250/20 would be my guess at a full season worth of ABs (Craig Goldstein)
2014-08-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)Which of these portly chaps do you like for the rest of the year, Billy Butler or Kennys Vargas?
(RotoLando from Cloud City)		I choose death (Craig Goldstein)
2014-08-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)I'm in a 14 team, 5x5 dynasty league. at 1B, i currently have Brandon Belt and Jon Singleton. Is Kennys Vargas worth a pickup ? I'm not contending this year.
(childgrambino from Richmond, VA)		I don't think he'll approach either of the guys you have, but I suppose it depends on who you're cutting. (Craig Goldstein)
2014-08-04 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thoughts on Kennys Vargas? Someone of interest in Minnesota or a Quad A type player?
(Shawn from Office)		Big time power and a better athlete than you'd think. Should be better than a Quad A guy, but not sure I see the point of rushing him to the majors now after a half season of Double-A. We'll see what happens though. Just stop with all the Big Papi comparisons. It's lazy and unfair to the kid. (Jeff Moore)
2014-07-31 19:30:00 (link to chat)The Twins called up Kennys Vargas today straight from AA. Why didn't they promote him to AAA earlier on to give him that experience? Are they going to be yo-yoing him back and forth from the minors like they did with Polanco or can we expect him to get an extended look?
(Dave from MD)		I think we'll see him get a good amount of playing time unless he struggles. He's interesting, but not a savior and not a big part of the Twins future. Nice add if you're desperate for power in deep leagues, though. (Ben Carsley)
2014-07-24 19:00:00 (link to chat)What do you think of Kennys Vargas from a fantasy baseball standpoint? Do you think he can be a .275 average, .350 on-base, 20 homerun guy?
(Kyle from Tuscon)		I think that's very heavy on average, I think of him as more of a .250 guy with 25 HR potential. He's a roto play in my mind if he can realize some of his potential, but I'm generally not to excited about 1B prospects. (Mauricio Rubio)
2014-07-07 11:00:00 (link to chat)What is a realistic comp for Eddie Rosario? Did his suspension take him out of consideration?
(fsumagic from Houston)		I just saw Rosario in game action and I wasn't all that impressed. He has bat speed and has an approach but I don't love the bat control or some of the swing decisions he makes. From LF, its a tough profile and I'm not sold the power is really going to show up.

But on that squad, I really like Kennys Vargas. That kid has 70 raw and I think some of it will come out to play. Legit power profile from both sides of the plate. (Jason Parks on the Top 50)
2014-07-03 19:00:00 (link to chat)Rank these prospects in a dynasty: Rosell Herrera, Nick Williams, Blake Swihart, Daniel Norris, Trevor Story, Alen Hanson, Philip Ervin, Kennys Vargas, Steven Mats.
(Tim from NJ)		Nick Williams, Trevor Story, Daniel Norris and Blake Swihart are the big four of that group. I think everyone kinda rounds out the backend. (Mauricio Rubio)
2014-07-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Mr. Moore - thanks as always for the time! I was hoping you'd share your thoughts on an odd troika of prospects. Victor Reyes, Franchy Cordero, and Kennys Vargas - ceilings, likelihood of reaching them, and ETA?
(dtothew from Atlanta )		I love odd troikas! Here's Ethan Purser's report on Reyes.: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_bat.php?reportid=100 Not a lot of standout tools so the hit tool will have to carry him. High risk guy but a good prospect. Franchy struggled with the adjustment to stateside ball early in the season but is now in short-season ball where he belongs. Disregard the struggles in Fort Wayne to start the season. He shouldn't have been there. Kennys Vargas is big and fun to watch, as you saw yesterday in the Future's Game. Here's Chris Mellen's report on him: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_bat.php?reportid=125He's a big time power guy that'll need it because he's stuck at first base. (Jeff Moore)
2014-07-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Bat only... what are the upsides of guys like Preston Tucker, Kennys Vargas, Christian Walker, and Dan Vogelbach? I know a couple may profile as DH types, but what kind of ceilings are we looking at?
(MP from Bluegrass State)		At least Tucker can play the OF. For guys at low positions on the defensive spectrum, they really have to hit. Most of these guys should be good for 20-25 homers, but at 1B or LF, that alone doesn't get you much past second-division regular territory. They also have to hit closer to .300 and show strong on base skills, which may or may not happen. (Jeff Moore)
2014-06-24 13:00:00 (link to chat)Can Kennys Vargas be a big league regular, or is he another data point with Calvin Pickering, Kyle Blanks and Walter Young against Very Large Men?
(Mario66 from Pittsburgh)		I'd wager against Vargas working out, but you didn't include Steven Moya (worlds largest human) and Juan Duran. Very upsetting. (Jordan Gorosh)


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PITCHf/x Hitter Profile

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