The big power bat the Veandos de Mazatlan added this past offseason has arrived to the team’s summer camp.
Kennys Vargas, a former Major Leaguer with experience in Japan and all four major winter leagues, has joined the Venados as they prepare for the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico season, which starts Oct. 15.
“I’m very happy to be here, grateful to God for giving me the opportunity and the health to be on the field. I’m happy with the reception from the kids and the coach. I’m 100 percent ready to give my all for the team,” he told the team website.
The Puerto Rican slugger has played 14 seasons of winter ball and appeared in 520 career games in Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, batting .255/.377/.424 with 73 homers and 309 RBIs. He’s played in two Caribbean Series, appearing in 2014 and 2016, both times for Puerto Rico.
Vargas is bullish on the quality of the play in the LAMP, telling the Venados’ website, “We see good growth; it’s at a high level, I’d say one of the best in the Caribbean. We expect great things; any team can win a championship; all teams are preparing for that.”
In 53 games with Monclova of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol this summer, the 34-year-old hit .319/.458/.681 with a 1.180 OPS, 13 homers and 29 RBIs.
Vargas appeared in 236 MLB games over parts of four seasons, hitting 35 homers and driving in 116 runs with a slash line of .252/.311/.437 between 2014-17 with Minnesota.
Photo: Kennys Vargas hits in the cage at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, the home of the Venados de Mazatlan, in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Venados de Mazatlan)
