Who is Alexander Vargas, Yankees’ best hitter this spring?

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When the New York Yankees orchestrated two trades in 2018 to secure additional international bonus pool money, they had their sights firmly set on Alexander Vargas, ultimately signing the Cuban shortstop for $2.5 million. At that moment, Vargas represented a tantalizing combination of raw athleticism and potential, but his development path since then has taken numerous unexpected turns.

Vargas’ progression through the Yankees’ farm system has been methodical and occasionally frustrating. He first appeared on MLB Pipeline’s Yankees Top 30 Prospect List in 2020 at No. 20 but struggled to gain significant momentum. Though he climbed to No. 13 in 2021—ranking ahead of now-established big leaguers Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith—by 2023, Vargas had disappeared from the prospect rankings entirely.

Despite possessing undeniable physical tools—including above-average arm strength, impressive range, and switch-hitting capability—his defensive inconsistency, slow offensive maturation, and questions surrounding his work ethic hindered his advancement. Nevertheless, the Yankees maintained their commitment to his development, believing his natural abilities would eventually translate to on-field success. That persistence now appears to be yielding remarkable results.

Delivering extraordinary spring numbers

Though he didn’t receive a formal invitation to major league spring training this year, Vargas has seized every opportunity presented to him, emerging as the Yankees‘ most productive hitter with statistics that demand attention.

Across 11 spring exhibition games, Vargas has compiled an astonishing .727 batting average, collecting 8 hits in just 11 at-bats. More impressively, five of those hits have resulted in extra bases—featuring three home runs and two doubles. His on-base percentage stands at a staggering .750, a figure rarely seen even in exhibition play.

Notably, Vargas isn’t padding his stats against minor-league competition. His most recent home run on March 10 against the Detroit Tigers came off Jordan Balazovic, a towering 6-foot-5 right-hander who made 18 appearances for the Minnesota Twins last season.

Boone’s growing appreciation

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been monitoring Vargas throughout camp and has become increasingly impressed with the young infielder’s development.

“Every time he’s come over, and we’ve brought him over a lot, he’s done a heck of a job,” Boone said. “His talent jumps at you a little bit.”

The Yankees skipper acknowledged that player development rarely follows a predictable timeline, with Vargas representing a perfect example of this principle.

“It’s one of those where everyone’s trajectory is not the same,” Boone continued. “It doesn’t happen how you necessarily think when a guy’s a prospect. Sometimes it takes a minute for guys to ascend and develop. He certainly has ability.”

Future prospects for Vargas

At just 23 years old, Vargas still has considerable time to establish himself within the Yankees organization. His exceptional spring performance has generated speculation that he could begin the season at Triple-A for the first time in his career.

While his career minor league statistics—a .224 batting average with 25 home runs across 372 games spanning five seasons (2019, 2021-24)—remain modest, the Yankees have been encouraged by his recent progress.

Boone believes Vargas is finally harnessing his considerable talent.

“Hopefully he can capitalize on (his talent) and learn from all the things that he’s gone through to this point,” Boone said. “But it’s been fun to watch him come over here and not just hit over .700—he’s hitting the ball really hard, too. He’s giving good at-bats every day.”

Beyond his offensive explosion, Boone has also recognized Vargas’ defensive improvements.

“I feel like he’s done a nice job in the field, as well,” Boone added. “He seems more mature than the guy we brought over the last couple of years.”

Potential path to the Bronx

Although the Yankees feature one of baseball’s most talented infield groups—with Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm jr., and Oswaldo Cabrera all competing for playing time—Vargas’ outstanding performance is forcing the organization to take notice.

Should he maintain his offensive production at Triple-A, it’s increasingly plausible that Vargas could earn a midseason promotion to the big leagues—particularly if injuries or performance issues create an opening.

For a player who has experienced numerous obstacles throughout his professional journey, 2025 might finally represent Alexander Vargas’ breakthrough year—the moment when patience and persistence transform potential into production at the highest levels of baseball.

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