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The Cuban third baseman Miguel Vargas couldn't hold back his tears when his teammates from the Chicago White Sox informed him that he had been selected for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, marking his first invitation to the summer classic.
The official team account on Facebook posted images of the emotional moment with the message "Vargy's reaction to his All-Star nod has us in our feels," which translates to the sentiment that the player's reaction filled them with emotions.
In the photographs, Vargas is seen in the team's clubhouse, covering his face with his black White Sox sweatshirt, visibly moved to tears, while he holds the commemorative plaque of the selection, and his teammates surround him, applauding and celebrating the moment.
The call-up comes during a season of offensive explosion for the 26-year-old from Havana, who, at the time of being announced, had accumulated 20 home runs, 55 RBIs, and an OPS of .854, statistics that place him among the most productive third basemen in the American League.
His performance in 2026 represents a significant leap compared to previous seasons: in 2025 he needed 138 games to reach 16 home runs, while in the current season he matched that total in just 65 games.
Vargas was also the first third baseman in all of MLB to reach 40 RBIs this season, a statistic that reflects the level of consistency that earned him a spot among the best in baseball.
The Cuban is one of the seven players born on the island chosen for the All-Star 2026, marking the second highest Cuban participation in the history of the event, only surpassed by the 2023 edition when eight were selected.
For the American League, Cuba will also be represented by Yordan Álvarez (Houston Astros, fourth selection), Yandy Díaz (Tampa Bay Rays), Randy Arozarena (Seattle Mariners), and Aroldis Chapman (Boston Red Sox, ninth participation at 38 years old).
In the National League, there will be Andy Pages (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Raisel Iglesias (Atlanta Braves), both making their debut in the classic alongside Vargas, although Iglesias has been in the Major Leagues for 12 years.
Vargas is the son of the legendary Cuban baseball player Lázaro Vargas and left Cuba at the age of 16 with his father.
He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in September 2017 for $300,000 and made his MLB debut in August 2022, before being traded to the White Sox for the 2025 season, where he solidified his status as one of the most dangerous power hitters in the league.
The MLB All-Star Game 2026 will be held on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and with seven Cuban representatives on the roster, the Caribbean island will have one of its largest presences in the history of the event.
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