CHICAGO — It’s taken Ildemaro Vargas 18 years to become an overnight sensation.
Vargas, the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ 34-year-old infielder, went 4-for-4 with a walk in a 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, extending his hitting streak to 27 games, which broke the major league record for a Venezuela native.
Vargas’ career-best streak dates to Sept. 26, 2025, and his 24-game streak to start this season is a franchise record. It’s also the longest hitting streak to begin a campaign since Detroit‘s Ron LeFlore hit in his first 30 games in 1976.
“Thought we had a chance to win, kind of slipped away from us,” Vargas told ESPN via Diamondbacks interpreter Alex Arpiza. “As far as the offense, things are coming out well.”
Perhaps an understatement about a day for Vargas that began with a national TV appearance on MLB.TV. He did the spot from the Wrigley Field infield while his teammates crowded around the screens in the clubhouse, watching their breakout teammate bask in a limelight that has been a long time coming.
“He’s fearless,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’ll take a strike when he needs to, he’s on base five times today. He’s doing a great job. And it’s not luck. All the things he’s doing in the quiet time is preparing him for these moments. He deserves this opportunity.”
Vargas entered professional baseball at the age of 16 in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and has played just about everywhere during the intervening years. He entered this season with a .249 career average with 303 hits and 20 home runs.
After enjoying his fourth career game with four or more hits Friday, and the third in which he has reached base five times, Vargas is now batting .404 with six homers — matching his career high — and 21 RBIs. He entered the day leading the National League in average, slugging percentage and OPS.
Vargas had been tied with Wilson Ramos for the record for a Venezuela-born player. Ramos had a 26-game hitting streak for the New York Mets in 2019.
Vargas also snapped a tie with Paul Goldschmidt for the second-longest hit streak in Diamondbacks franchise history. Luis Gonzalez holds the record at 30 games from April 11 to May 18, 1999.
After 18 years of professional baseball, Vargas is not taking his time in the spotlight for granted. But it’s still all about winning.
“I’m living a dream right now,” Vargas said. “I’m taking advantage of my moment, and I’ve arrived at the right moment. But, honestly, what I really want is that the team continues to have success.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
