• Full name Jason Matthew Vargas
  • Born 02/02/1983 in Apple Valley, CA
  • Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
  • School Long Beach State
  • Debut 07/14/2005
  • Drafted in the 2nd round (68th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2004 (signed for $525,000).
    View Draft Report
    Vargas has been overshadowed at Long Beach State by Jered Weaver, the projected No. 1 pick, but has commanded plenty of interest himself. In fact, his velocity has often topped Weaver's. He has been clocked up to 95 mph, a vast improvement from 2003 at Cypress JC, where his fastball ranged from 86-90. Scouts said Vargas was always capable of throwing harder, but it didn't happen until he took extra measures to tone up his 6-foot, 215-pound frame. Also an accomplished hitter, he was used more in a DH role this spring to conserve his energy. He was hitting .368-5-32 while going 7-6, 4.25 with 81 strikeouts in 97 innings on the mound. Vargas, who spent his freshman year at Louisiana State, doesn't have an especially fast arm, and there are questions whether he profiles better as a reliever or starter because he lacks a dominant second pitch. But he's a lefthander with a mid-90s fastball, and that alone should make him a sandwich pick or high second-rounder.

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