Miguel Vargas Injury News & Updates

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that Vargas could see more action in the outfield moving forward, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vargas slumped his way out of the second base job in Los Angeles before the midway point of the 2023 season and the Dodgers have grown more comfortable using Mookie Betts at that position, especially against right-handed pitching. Vargas, accordingly, is going to have to find a different avenue to get back to a regular major-league role in 2024. The 23-year-old boasts a .310/.392/.487 career minor-league batting line and remains an important long-term piece for the reigning NL West champs. He made seven starts in left field down the stretch this summer with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers' top prospect entering the season, Vargas is slashing .146/.273/.293 with two home runs and one steal in 29 games since June 1. His 21 percent strikeout rate and 13 percent walk rate are right in line with expectations, but he has been a bit unlucky on balls in play this season (.224 BABIP) and could maybe use a mental reset. Chris Taylor (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list after the All-Star break.

Vargas is not in the lineup Friday versus the Angels.

Mookie Betts will make his 19th start of the year at second base, and it's his sixth start there in the Dodgers' last 12 games. Vargas hit a double in Thursday's win over the Dodgers but holds a disappointing .197/.300/.370 season slash line spanning 299 plate appearances.

Vargas remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Pirates.

Vargas was also absent from the Dodgers' starting lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts off the bench as his season slash line dipped to .195/.299/.367. Mookie Betts will draw another nod at second base Wednesday.

Vargas is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates.

Mookie Betts will start at second base and bat leadoff versus the Pirates and right-hander Luis Ortiz. Vargas went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Monday's series opener and is slashing just .197/.301/.369 through 294 plate appearances this season.

Vargas is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers are giving Mookie Betts a start at second base, which means Vargas will begin this one on the bench. The rookie infielder has just a .570 OPS in June and has seen his playing time dip as a result.

Vargas is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Vargas has really struggled as of late, and the Dodgers will go with Mookie Betts at second base against Colorado on Tuesday with Max Muncy (hamstring) coming off the injured list to play third. There have been flashes of brilliance from Vargas in his rookie season, but he's in danger of losing more playing time if the hits continue to not drop in.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Vargas started the past eight games and will receive a day to regroup after he went 1-for-29 during that stretch. Mookie Betts will come in to play second base while Jason Heyward starts in right field.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Angels.

Vargas had gone 0-for-20 over his last six games and came up empty in his first three at-bats Wednesday before knocking a ninth-inning solo shot. It snapped an 11-game homer drought for the infielder. He continues to see regular playing time, but he's slashing just .207/.309/.388 with seven homers, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored and three stolen bases over 69 contests. Vargas also struck out three times Wednesday, but he's displayed a decent eye at the plate with a 19.9 percent strikeout rate and a 12.4 percent walk rate on the year.

Vargas will sit Saturday against the Phillies, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Vargas went hitless in Friday's series opener but reached base twice on a pair of walks. His eye has been his biggest strength in his first major-league season, with his 13.0 percent walk rate helping him to a 110 wRC+ despite his modest .231 batting average and six homers. Mookie Betts will move in to play second base in Vargas' absence, with Jason Heyward taking Betts' usual spot in right field.

Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two total RBI in a loss to the Reds on Wednesday.

Vargas blasted a solo shot to center field in the second inning and added a run-scoring double in the third. The rookie extended his modest hitting streak to five games, during which he's slashing .429/.529/.857 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and a steal. Vargas didn't hit his first homer until his 25th game of the campaign, but he's perked up a bit since with six long balls across his past 33 contests.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss to the Reds.

Vargas walked and stole his third base of the year in the sixth and later notched a base hit in the eighth. The 23-year-old has recorded a hit in each of his first four games in June and also has a 3:3 BB:K over that span. Vargas has endured growing pains over the course of his first full MLB season but will continue to see the lion's share of starts at second base. He's slashing .228/.333/.413 with five homers, 26 RBI, 28 runs and a 28:43 BB:K over 216 plate appearances.

Vargas isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Saturday against the Yankees, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Vargas holds just a .468 OPS over the past week, so he'll get a day off Saturday against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees. Mookie Betts will take Vargas' place at second base, allowing Jason Heyward to start in left field and bat sixth.

Vargas is absent from the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.

Mookie Betts will play second base and Jason Heyward is in right field. Vargas caught fire for a stretch earlier this month, but he is 3-for-23 (.130) with 10 strikeouts over his last seven games.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 6-5 win against the Rays on Saturday.

Vargas provided what proved to be a crucial insurance run in the eighth inning with his 408-foot solo shot. The long ball snapped a 12-game homerless drought for the rookie dating back to May 10. That was the second prolonged power outage for Vargas this season -- he failed to go deep in his first 24 contests of the campaign, then proceeded to hit four homers over his next 12 games.

Vargas isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.

Vargas is slashing .250/.308/.333 over the past week and will get a breather Tuesday against Spencer Strider. Mookie Betts will come in to start at second base Tuesday, and Jason Heyward will start in right field while batting sixth.

Vargas is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Twins.

Mookie Betts will play second base and hit leadoff to facilitate a fully lefty-hitting outfield for Los Angeles. Vargas went 2-for-5 with a double in Monday's series opener versus Minnesota and boasts a .935 OPS over his last 48 plate appearances.

Vargas went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Brewers.

He took Wade Miley deep in the sixth inning to help chase the veteran southpaw from the game. Vargas has had a slow start to 2023 due to the broken finger he suffered in spring training, but he appears to be getting comfortable at the plate -- the 23-year-old has homered in back-to-back games, with three of his four long balls on the year coming in the last eight contests.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Brewers.

Vargas teed off in the sixth inning and pushed the Dodgers' lead to 6-0. The second baseman lacked power in April, as he slugged .325 in the month. But May has been better, where Vargas has two home runs and six extra-base hits in 29 at bats.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

After closing the Dodgers' weekend series in San Diego with an 0-for-8 showing at the dish over the final two games, Vargas will get a chance to rest Monday. Mookie Betts will move from the outfield to cover second base while Vargas hits the bench for the first time since April 27.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, two runs scored and a steal in Wednesday's 10-6 win over the Phillies.

Vargas stayed hot Tuesday, smacking his second homer of the season, a two-run shot off Aaron Nola, before stealing his second base. After a slow start to the season, Vargas has gone 11-for-39 in his last 10 games with five doubles and two home runs. The 23-year-old Vargas is now slashing .237/.363/.409 with two home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 114 plate appearances while seeing regular playing time at second base.

Vargas went 4-for-5 with three doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 13-1 win over the Phillies.

This was Vargas' fourth multi-hit effort of the campaign, and the first time he logged more than two hits. The 23-year-old infielder had a two-run double in the seventh inning and an RBI single in the eighth as the Dodgers piled on runs late. Vargas is still adjusting to major-league pitching, as evidenced by his .236 batting average, but he's gotten on base at a .367 clip thanks to a 16.5 percent walk rate. He has one home run, one stolen base, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored and eight doubles through 109 plate appearances.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-3 win against the Cardinals.

Vargas provided the final runs of the contest for the Dodgers with his two-run shot to left field in the seventh inning. It was his first homer of the campaign and the second of his career. While Vargas has shown good discipline at the plate this season -- he ranks second on the team with 16 walks and has recorded a solid 20.9 percent strikeout rate -- the 23-year-old's overall production has been mild. He's slashing .219/.363/.342 with Friday's home run, four doubles, a triple, 11 runs, eight RBI and one stolen base through 91 plate appearances.

Vargas is absent from the Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Mookie Betts will handle first base. Vargas is getting on base at a .372 clip thanks to 16 walks, but a .681 OPS and zero home runs have left something to be desired.

Vargas will sit Saturday against the Cubs, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Vargas hits the bench after starting 10 straight games at second base. He hasn't gotten off to a great start this season, hitting .204/.371/.296 with zero homers, but his 14:15 BB:K at least indicates that he's seeing the ball quite well. Mookie Betts will start at second base, with Jason Heyward taking Betts' usual spot in right field.

Vargas (thumb) is back in the Dodgers' lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Vargas will start at second base and bat fifth after missing a couple of games due to a sore right thumb, the result of being hit by a pitch Monday. Mookie Betts is out in right field Friday and hitting leadoff.

Vargas (thumb) is still sore but is available to pinch hit Thursday against Arizona, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Vargas is able to both hit and throw, but he remains out of the lineup for the second consecutive game. Unless he suffers a setback, he'll avoid the injured list and there seems to be a decent chance he'll be back for Friday's matchup against the Diamondbacks.

Vargas (thumb) isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against Arizona, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Thursday marks the second game Vargas will miss after getting hit in the thumb by a pitch Monday. He's reportedly been able to swing a bat just fine, but the issue seems to still be affecting his ability to throw the ball. While Vargas sits, Mookie Betts will start at second base for the Dodgers on Thursday, opening up right field for Jason Heyward to start and bat ninth.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Rockies that Vargas is dealing with soreness in his right thumb, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Roberts say that Vargas can swing the bat, but he's feeling discomfort when throwing the baseball. The rookie infielder is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Colorado, and with the Dodgers having a day off on Wednesday he'll be reevaluated before Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Vargas (thumb) is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Rockies, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vargas was hit in his right thumb Monday and while he was able to stay in the game, the Dodgers will give the 23-year-old at least a day off to recover. Mookie Betts starts at second base, and Jason Heyward will hit ninth and play right field.

Vargas was hit by a pitch on his right thumb Monday, but he stayed in the game and is said to be fine, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. "We'll get it look at tomorrow," manager Dave Roberts said after the game. "He said it was sore, but full range of motion or strength. So hopefully [Tuesday] he comes in feeling good. He was adamant about staying in the game [Monday]."

A 92-mph fastball from Connor Seabold hit Vargas in the hand in the bottom of the seventh inning, and while Vargas appeared to be in significant pain initially, he shook it off and took his position in the field the next half inning. The Dodgers are off Wednesday and could always give him a couple days if there's swelling in the thumb. Vargas has already drawn nine walks this season, the most in franchise history through the first five games of a season, per Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Manager Dave Roberts is opening up a spot in the outfield for Trayce Thompson for the second day in a row after Thompson slugged three home runs and drove in eight in Saturday's 10-1 win, resulting in Vargas being the odd man out of the lineup. Mookie Betts will move to the keystone to facilitate room for Thompson, while Vargas heads to the bench after going 2-for-5 with a double, seven walks and three runs through the Dodgers' first three contests.

Vargas went 1-for-1 with a double and three walks in a loss to Arizona on Friday.

Vargas nearly hit his first home run of the season in the second inning, but the ball bounced off the wall, and he ended up with a double. The rookie set the table by walking in each of his three subsequent plate appearances, but the batters below him in the order couldn't cash him in. Vargas has displayed an astute eye at the plate through two games, walking five times over eight plate appearances.

Vargas has gone 7-for-16 with a home run and three doubles since the Dodgers allowed him to start swinging in games following a finger injury.

Vargas' spring slash line of .292/.452/.542 looks pretty good on the surface, but it's even better when taking into account the fact that he began the Cactus League schedule with orders from the team to not swing the bat. The rookie consequently racked up eight strikeouts (in eight at-bats) while simply tracking pitches before the restriction was lifted, and he's since shown no ill effects from the hairline fracture of his right pinky finger that he suffered early in camp. Vargas has also made some nice defensive plays at second base, where he's slated to log most of his time in a starting role this season.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in a Cactus League contest against Oakland on Thursday.

This was Vargas' seventh game of the spring, but he wasn't allowed to swing the bat in his first six after fracturing his right pinky finger while fielding a grounder early in camp. He was cleared to begin swinging in games ahead of Thursday's exhibition contest and nearly homered in his first at-bat, driving a ball to deep center field that bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Now that Vargas is back to playing without restrictions, there's nothing standing in his way of opening the campaign as the Dodgers' starting second baseman.

Vargas (finger) is hitting second in the Dodgers' Cactus League lineup Thursday against the Athletics, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

And he has been given clearance to actually swing the bat in a live game for the first time since he suffered a hairline fracture to his right pinkie finger in February. Vargas should open as the primary starting second baseman in Los Angeles if all goes smoothly from this point forward. The 23-year-old struggled in his first taste of MLB action last season but posted excellent offensive numbers throughout his rise through the minors.

Vargas (finger) is not in the Dodgers' Cactus League lineup Wednesday night against the Mariners, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

It's just a routine bit of rest, and the expectation is that Vargas will finally be allowed to swing the bat the next time he does appear in an exhibition game. He's merely been tracking pitches so far in Cactus League play after suffering a hairline fracture in his right pinkie finger at the beginning of spring training. All signs point to the talented 23-year-old being at second base for Los Angeles on Opening Day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Vargas (finger) is expected to resume swinging the bat in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Though Vargas hasn't been cleared to hit in games since Feb. 20 due to a right pinkie finger fracture, the injury hasn't hindered him in the field. He's still been making regular starts at second base during the Cactus League slate, and despite doing little more than standing in at the dish during his plate appearances, Vargas has managed to draw four walks. He'll start at the keystone again Monday against the Padres and won't take swings, but look for Vargas to become more aggressive at the plate beginning with Wednesday's contest.

Vargas (finger) will not take swings in Saturday's exhibition game, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vargas has already started several games and taken a swing while in the batter's box, and that will be the case again Saturday. There was hope that he would be cleared to hit in a game at some point this weekend, but manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that he will not do so until Wednesday at the earliest.

Vargas (finger) is hopeful to gain clearance to swing the bat in games by this weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register Register reports.

Vargas has been playing in Cactus League games but has been limited only to defense and tracking pitches at the plate. However, he recently resumed taking batting practice and it sounds as if he could be full-go in a few days. The youngster is working his way back from a hairline fracture on his right pinkie finger.

Vargas (finger) told reporters Wednesday that he has started taking batting practice, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Vargas has been cleared to take BP, but hasn't been told when he'll be able to start swinging in games. The infielder suffered a hairline fracture in his right pinkie at the start of camp, but he's been able to play defense, and the fact he's already taking swings is a positive sign. Assuming there are no setbacks, Vargas should be ready for the start of the regular season.

Vargas (finger) is starting at second base and batting ninth versus the Padres on Monday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vargas has been dealing with a hairline fracture on his right pinky finger, but he was able to swing without pain on Sunday and will be back in the lineup for the first time since the team's spring opener last Monday. The 23-year-old has the ability to play all around the diamond defensively and he could end up being the Dodgers' everyday second baseman this season as Gavin Lux transitions over to shortstop following the departure of Trea Turner in free agency. Vargas struggled to a .170/.200/.255 slash line with Los Angeles last season over 47 at-bats, but he is considered the Dodgers' top prospect and produced a .304 average with 17 homers, 82 RBI, 100 runs and 16 stolen bases with Triple-A Oklahoma in 2022, proving the type of production he could bring Los Angeles in 2023 and beyond.

Vargas (finger) took some two-handed swings during a workout Sunday and indicated that his right hand felt fine, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Vargas suffered a hairline fracture in his right pinky finger while fielding a grounder Feb. 20 and had been held back from swinging until Sunday. He did, however, start the Dodgers' Cactus League opener against Milwaukee on Saturday, playing defense and tracking pitches during his two plate appearances. Given Vargas' ability to progress to swinging Sunday, he should have plenty of time to prepare for Opening Day, when he's expected to be in the lineup as Los Angeles' starting second baseman.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Vargas (finger) has regained his grip strength and is working in the batting cage, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The 23-year-old has been limited since he suffered a hairline fracture to his right pinky finger last week and he appears to be progressing toward full clearance. Vargas was in the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League opener in order to see some defensive reps, though he wasn't cleared to swing the bat. He'll likely need to at least face some live pitching before receiving full clearance for games.

Vargas (finger) will be in the lineup for the Dodgers' Cactus League opener Saturday but will not be allowed to swing the bat, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

The team wants Vargas to get the defensive reps, but he'll only be tracking pitches at the plate as he comes back from a hairline fracture in his right pinky. It's not clear when exactly he might be cleared to hit, but it's not expected to be long. Barring setbacks, the Dodgers are anticipating that Vargas will be ready for Opening Day.

Vargas (finger) will play defense in the Dodgers' intrasquad game Thursday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Vargas suffered a hairline fracture to the pinky finger on his right hand while fielding grounders last week, but he can still do a lot of baseball activities without causing further damage. He hasn't been cleared yet to resume hitting, but that will hopefully come rather soon. The 23-year-old projects to open the 2023 regular season as the Dodgers' primary second baseman, assuming that he is able to avoid further setbacks.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Monday that Vargas suffered a hairline fracture to the pinky finger of his right hand and won't resume swinging the bat for at least a few days, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

A diagnosis for the pinky injury Vargas suffered while fielding a grounder earlier Monday wasn't initially provided, but Roberts provided more clarity on the matter when he met with the media following the Dodgers' workout. Though the nature of the injury isn't ideal, Vargas will still be able to take part in fielding drills over the next few days, which should help him in his bid to secure an everyday role at second base heading into Opening Day. According to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, the Dodgers don't have a precise timeline for when Vargas will resume swinging, but Roberts suggested that it may come down to a matter of pain tolerance on the part of the 23-year-old.

Vargas took a ball off his right pinky while taking grounders on Monday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that the injury will keep Vargas from swinging the bat for a few days. The good news is it won't keep the 23-year-old from playing defense, and Roberts says that the injury shouldn't be a long-term issue. Vargas is battling for a starting spot with the Dodgers this spring, and his offensive upside gives him a shot for immediate fantasy success.

Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman said Sunday that Vargas could open 2023 as the club's primary second baseman, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old had a .455 OPS across 18 games in his first taste of big-league action in 2022, but he could be an Opening Day starter for Los Angeles this year following the offseason departures of Trea Turner and Justin Turner. Vargas is the organization's top prospect, and it appears he'll enter spring training with a leg up for playing time over veteran Miguel Rojas, who would fill an infield utility role after being acquired from the Marlins.

Vargas went 1-for-2 with three RBI in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Padres.

Vargas put the Dodgers on the board in the second inning with a sacrifice fly, then broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth with a two-run single. It was his second straight contest with multiple RBI, though the previous performance came five days earlier. After starting his major-league career with just three hits in his first 24 at-bats, Vargas has gone 5-for-17 with a home run and six RBI over five games since Sept. 20. Manager Dave Roberts said after Thursday's victory that the rookie "is certainly in the mix to make the postseason roster," per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Cardinals.

He pulled a grooved 93-mph fastball from Jordan Montgomery out to left-center field for the first home run of his MLB career. Vargas has seen an uptick in playing time recently, as he has started in four of the last six games, although three of those starts came against left-handed pitchers. He is hitting .267 with two runs and three RBI over that stretch.

Vargas will bat eighth and play left field Saturday against San Diego, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Vargas, who hit .304/.404/.511 with 17 homers and 16 steals in 113 Triple-A games this season, is an exciting prospect, but his short-term appeal is lessened by the fact that he plays for a team with a very deep roster and one that employs Justin Turner at third base. The Dodgers have all but clinched the NL West already, however, so they have the freedom to experiment down the stretch, which could include things like trying Vargas in the outfield on a regular basis.

Los Angeles recalled Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

The Dodgers' top hitting prospect won't have a clear path to an everyday role as he rejoins the big club, but expect manager Dave Roberts to find room for Vargas in the lineup at least a couple times a week while veteran players like Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Chris Taylor receive occasional maintenance days over the final month of the season. Vargas logged eight plate appearances with the Dodgers earlier this summer, but he's otherwise spent the entire 2022 campaign at Oklahoma City, where he turned in a .915 OPS while chipping in 16 steals over 113 games.

Vargas exited during the middle of Triple-A Oklahoma City's game Tuesday and will be added to the major-league roster Thursday by the Dodgers when rosters expand to 28 players, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old appeared in two games in his first taste of big-league action in early August, and he'll rejoin the Dodgers on Thursday when two extra roster spots become available. Vargas, who is Los Angeles' top prospect, has a .301/.398/.503 slash line with 16 home runs, 81 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 111 games at Triple-A this year.

Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Vargas appeared in two games since being recalled Aug. 2, collecting two hits (one double) and two RBI in eight at-bats while also swiping a bag. The Dodgers have yet to announce a corresponding move, but per Ardaya, the club may be preparing to activate Justin Turner (abdomen) from the 10-day injured list.

Vargas is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres.

Considered by many to be the top prospect in the organization, Vargas was added to the 40-man roster earlier this week and collected two hits in his MLB debut, but he's been on the bench for two of three games since. Even with Justin Turner (abdomen) on the injured list, the Dodgers' infield is crowded.

Vargas isn't starting Thursday against the Giants, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Vargas made his big-league debut Wednesday and went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. James Outman will take over as the designated hitter and bat ninth Thursday.

Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-0 win over San Francisco.

Vargas was called up to the majors for the first time Tuesday and made his first start Wednesday. The 22-year-old wasted little time making his mark on the LA-SF rivalry, driving in the game's first run with a double in the second inning and immediately following with a steal of third base. Vargas notched another RBI with an infield single in the third. Justin Turner (abdomen) isn't expected to need a long-term stay on the IL, but Vargas could carve out playing time beyond the veteran third baseman's return if he gets off to a productive big-league start.

Vargas was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

The Dodgers are fairly healthy -- or at least about to be -- in the infield, but that did not stop them from calling up one of their top prospects. He will not make his first big-league start Tuesday, but it should not be long before he does. Vargas brings a good mix of power and speed to the table, having recorded 15 home runs, 12 steals and an .897 OPS over 94 Triple-A games this season.

Vargas will be active for Tuesday's game against the Giants, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Vargas will not immediately join the Dodgers' lineup, but it appears the team is ready to give one of its best prospects a shot to show what he can do at the top level.