Ildemaro

Vargas

Vargas was in competition with Garrett Hampson for the utility job, and the D-Backs chose Hampson. Vargas will presumably begin the season with Triple-A Reno.

Hampson batted .300 (12-for-40) with eight RBI and three steals in 17 games this spring to secure a spot on Arizona’s season-opening roster over veteran Ildemaro Vargas in a versatile bench role.

Garrett Hampson has put in for his opt out with the D-backs, but he played today and there’s still the chance Arizona could add him to the 40-man roster. It’s between Vargas and Hampson for one spot on Arizona’s bench.

The battle to become the Diamondbacks’ utility infielder is really heating up now, as Garrett Hampson went 3-for-4 with three runs scored today. With Blaze Alexander injured and Grae Kessinger already getting optioned out, Vargas and Hampson appear to be competing for one bench spot. Vargas has a .976 to .754 OPS advantage this spring.

That’s the second homer of the spring for Vargas. The 33-year-old has hit well to begin the spring session, and with Blaze Alexander (oblique) beginning the 2024 season on the injured list, it could open a spot for Vargas to be the utility player to begin the 2025 campaign.

The versatile 33-year-old infielder tagged Rockies right-hander Jimmy Herget for his 403-foot (104.4 mph exit velocity) two-run blast in the fifth inning, giving the Diamondbacks a 6-5 lead. It would be short-lived though. Vargas enters Cactus League play facing an uphill battle at winning a bench spot on the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster. Continuing to produce like he did on Friday though will only help his cause.

Vargas was non-tenders off the roster by the Nationals in November. Vargas hit .246/.295/.316 in his time with Washington last year, and while he provides some defensive versatility, he doesn’t provide much in terms of value at the plate.

All three have elected free agency and will search for new opportunities after being jettisoned from Washington’s 40-man roster. Of the trio, Meneses was the only one with any semblance of fantasy relevance in the past few years, but he was unable to parlay his late-career breakthrough into a long-term role with the Nationals.

Tena injured the thumb while attempting to field a grounder in the third inning. The 23-year-old infielder was replaced by Ildemaro Vargas at third base. Tena should be considered day-to-day for now, but he’ll likely undergo testing to see the severity of the injury.

No word yet on the reason for the change. Ildemaro Vargas will start at second base and bat seventh.