Miguel Vargas Homers Twice as White Sox Extend AL Central Lead Over Tigers

August 15, 2026

Cuban third baseman Miguel Vargas homered twice, scored three runs and drove in three more as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers 9-5 on August 14, 2026, extending Chicago's lead in the American League Central Division to three and a half games.

Vargas, a Havana native, finished the night four-for-four at the plate, connecting for a two-run home run in the sixth inning and adding a solo shot in the eighth. Teammates Braden Montgomery and Tristan Peters also went deep as part of a five-run fourth inning that put the game out of reach, while Detroit's Ben Malgeri and Gleyber Torres led a late Tigers rally that fell short.

The performance is the latest highlight in a strong 2026 season for Vargas, who was traded to the White Sox from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2024 and has since established himself as one of the most productive Cuban hitters in the major leagues, earning the nickname "El Vikingo Cubano" for his physical build and intense style of play.

Vargas left Cuba at 14 and signed as an international free agent with the Dodgers in September 2017, working his way through the minor leagues before debuting in the majors in August 2022. He is the son of Lázaro Vargas, a celebrated third baseman in Cuba's National Series.