Miguel Vargas’ injury appears to be more serious than initially thought. The White Sox placed him on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to August 2nd) with a left oblique strain before this afternoon’s series finale against the Angels. The team recalled infielder Curtis Mead from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move to replace him on the roster.
Vargas’ Successful 2025 Season Thus Far
Vargas, 25, has been the team’s most durable player up to this point, appearing in 106 of 110 games. He was performing reasonably well too, slashing .229/.305/.402 with 25 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 1.2 bWAR, and 1.0 fWAR on the season while playing both third and first base. Despite his solid overall numbers, consistency has still been an issue for him. After struggling in April, he had a scorching hot May and has subsequently come back down to Earth again. Still, he has shown considerable growth from last year.
It isn’t clear exactly when Vargas suffered the injury, but the team scratched him before last night’s game and didn’t waste much time putting him on the injured list. The team also did not announce a timetable for his return, but oblique injuries can be tricky. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him miss several weeks, if not longer.
Mead’s Golden Opportunity
Vargas’ injury is unfortunate, but it opens the door for Curtis Mead. The White Sox acquired the 24-year-old infielder in the Adrian Houser trade with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this week. A former top 100 prospect who hasn’t put it together at the MLB level yet, Mead’s current status is similar to Vargas’ when the White Sox acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline. Mead is still an intriguing talent who has always hit in the minor leagues. Like Vargas, he could benefit from consistent at-bats in a low-pressure environment.
Mead initially reported to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights after the trade, where he collected four hits and three walks in just two games. He will now get another MLB opportunity sooner than he probably expected. Given the Vargas injury and the team’s roster construction, he will likely play mostly first base. However, Mead does have experience playing third base, second base, and first base at the big league level, so he offers additional defensive versatility if necessary. He has also slashed .266/.356/.418 over his last 90 MLB plate appearances since May 1st.
Final Word
The White Sox have been rolling recently. They are 10-4 in the second half and look like a completely different team than they did earlier in the season. Miguel Vargas going down is a tough blow to a team firing on all cylinders, but the silver lining is that Curtis Mead will now get a chance to prove himself. With Vargas out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Mead should get consistent playing time moving forward. We will see if he can make the most of it.
