Signed as a 16-year-old international free agent by the Cardinals in 2008, Ildemaro Vargas spent 7 years developing in their organization, mostly sticking in Rookie level leagues. He never showed much with the bat during the early years, mostly playing a passable shortstop and second base. After those 7 years and only reaching AA for a handful of at-bats, he was released from the team.
Ildemaro spent a brief month with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic Professional Baseball League, before signing a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona promoted him to single-A Kane County and he performed admirably, posting a .