Prospect Profile: Jordy Vargas
The Potential of Jordy Vargas and Notes on his start last night (4/6/2023)
One of my favorite prospects after the 2021 season, Jordy Vargas is becoming less of a sleeper and more of a potential top pitching prospect. The right handed pitching prospect out of the Dominican is looking to provide the Rockies with a rare top pitching prospect to succeed in Coors Field. But, Vargas has a long road before reaching Coors as he starts 2023 in Low-A as the opening day starter.
Jordy Vargas has impressed from the start of his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. In 2021, Vargas pitching in the DSL at 17 years old to the tune of a 1.30 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched. Vargas also limited damage from his opponents, allowing just 18 hits while walking 16. After dominating the complex league In 2022, Vargas continued his success by reaching Low-A for almost half of his innings pitched. In 2022 he had a combined 2.98 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched while again allowing few hits at just 33 to go along with 17 walks.
Vargas, just 19 years old for all of the 2023 season was given the opening day start for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. He delivered. Vargas went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, no walks and striking out 3 batters. A 93 mph fastball/cutter to go along with a plus curveball at 75 mph left hitters off balance. Vargas also mixed in a nasty changeup that got him a few swing and misses and could end up being his best pitch. He started the game with a 3 pitch strikeout where he froze the batter on his big curveball. Vargas attacked a lot of hitters with his fastball, curveball mix and added in the changeup from the second inning on. Vargas has both cut and tail on his fastball which worked well for him in the opener where he jammed a few right handed batters with a 2 seam looking type of fastball.
Jordy Vargas is an extremely projectable arm, he stands 6’3 and is listed at 153 pounds. Only 19, Vargas should gain some weight that will hopefully allow the Velo to tick up to the high 90’s making him a potential frontline starter. A really good athlete, Vargas has no issues repeating his delivery. Vargas reminds me of a mix of Triston Mckenzie and Yordano Ventura, which is an electric pitching prospect. If Jordy Vargas breaks out, he could reach Double-A by the end of this season at 19 years old.