Ildemaro Vargas extends hit streak to MLB-leading 20 games

Ildemaro Vargas celebrates home run against White Sox
Ildemaro Vargas celebrates home run against White SoxRoss D. Franklin / CTK / AP

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his hit streak to an MLB-leading 20 games during Wednesday night's matchup against the Chicago White Sox.

Vargas, 34, extended the streak with a three-run home run to give the D'Backs a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning, making it three straight games with a home run. He has now hit safely in his last 20 games dating back to 2025 (17 games this season). 

Should he hit three more home runs, Vargas will have surpassed his single-season high of six (2019). 

The 10-year veteran had only three home runs all of last season. Now, he has surpassed that already with his fourth of 2026. 

Vargas headed into Wednesday's game batting .361 with three home runs and 11 RBI. He put up 19 RBI last season and now needs just six more to surpass that following the three-run home run. 

The Venezuela native originally started off his career with the Diamondbacks, debuting in 2017 and playing with the team halfway through 2020. Vargas has played for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates before finding his way back to Arizona in 2021, where he played in just 18 games. 

In 2022, Vargas went back to Chicago before landing with the Nationals that same season. He'd spend time with the Nats through 2024 before finally coming back to Arizona last season.