New York Yankees: Alexander Vargas, I want to be as good a Lindor or better

Today, we take a baseball journey with the future shortstop of the New York Yankees, the Matanzas, Cuba native, Alexander Vargas.

HIALEAH, FL – Alexander Vargas signed in 2019 with the New York Yankees for $2.5M in international free agency and with that signing came lofty expectations.

He is projected to be Gotham’s next great shortstop and his ETA in the big apple is 2023 if all goes as planned for the youngster.

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Last season he had decent start between the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League. The young Cuban although he hit a paltry .233 did manage to steal 15 in 18 attempts.

The Matanzas, Cuba native has an enormous upside at the plate according to scouts. Not only does he make good contact but he can also switch hit.

Alexander Vargas is a plus runner and recently clocked at 6.5 in the 60-yard dash. Scouts project him as a future big-league shortstop and also project that he will hit .270 and steal 30 bases in the Majors if he lives up to his potential.

Defensively the future New York Yankees shortstop has great hands, above-average range, and a strong arm, especially from the hole.

Scouting Grades on the 20-80 scale:

Hitting: 55  Power: 40  Speed:60  Arm: 55 Defense:55

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In your first year in professional baseball, what differences did you see between baseball here and the one in Cuba?

There is a big difference between baseball here and the one played in Cuba. The game here is more demanding and organized. Here teams have a lot of requirements for a player, one also has to be very consistent and play under control. This is not so the case in Cuba.

What part of your game did you work on during the off-season?

I did a lot of strength training so I could hit the ball with more power. I want to be more explosive in the batter’s box. I want to reach my full potential as a hitter and that’s why I worked so hard on that aspect during the off-season.

Based on your body of work last season you positioned yourself in the Top 20 in the organization’s prospect rankings, what goals do you have for this season?

First of all, I want to thank God for giving me the talent to be in the organization’s top 20 prospect rankings. My goal is to give my best effort daily and leave everything on the field, so when I go home I’m satisfied with my effort. If I do this daily I would accomplish my goal no matter what the results.

You have established yourself as one of the premier base stealers in the organization in only your first year there. Are there any tells you look for from a pitcher before stealing a base?

I’m constantly observing many things when I’m at first, for example, his timing to the plate, how hard he throws, also during what count he throws offspeed stuff and the most important thing is how good is his move to first. There are many variables that one must take into account before one attempts to steal a base successfully.

At what level will you begin this season?

I really don’t know right now and it isn’t really in my control, but at whatever level I start I will give my best effort day in and day out. All I want to do is play baseball, that is my passion.

Did having a familiar face like Denny Larrondo‘s on the club help you feel more at him in your first season?

It most definitely did, (Denny) Larrondo is like a brother to me. It was definitely great to have him around last season.

Name a player at your position that you admire?

I have great admiration for Francisco Lindor. I want to be as talented as him or better, that’s definitely a goal I have set for myself.