Miguel Vargas became the focus of a double historical milestone for Cuban baseball in the Major Leagues on Monday, by tying two records for players born on the island related to his performance at the plate, as reported by journalist Francys Romero.
The former player of the Chicago White Sox tied the record for a player born in Cuba for the most consecutive games receiving at least one walk in MLB, reflecting the adjustments he has made in his pitch selection and recognition of the strike zone.
In parallel, Vargas reached 85 walks in the 2026 season, a figure that ties another historical record: the highest number of walks in a season for a Cuban third baseman in Major League Baseball.
That mark belonged to Roberto "Bobby" Estalella, who established it with the Washington Senators in 1942, when he accumulated 85 tickets in 133 games and closed the season with an on-base percentage of .400.
What makes the tie particularly striking is the longevity of the record: Estalella, born in Cárdenas, Matanzas, set that figure 84 years ago, making it one of the oldest records in Cuban baseball in the Major Leagues.
Vargas now has the opportunity to leave that record behind and become the Cuban player with the most tickets sold in a single Major League campaign.
The 2026 season is, in every sense, the most complete of his career. Vargas hit 29 home runs in August, significantly surpassing his previous personal record of 16 home runs, and he was selected for the 2026 All-Star Game in July.
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