Ildemaro Vargas fielded a hard smash on one hop and flung it effortlessly across the diamond, making a difficult play look surprisingly easy. An inning earlier on Wednesday night, he had lined a single into left field to drive in two runs, a hit that came off reliever Carl Edwards Jr., a pitcher expected to play a big role in the Chicago Cubs bullpen.
Those sorts of moments have become commonplace for Vargas this month. Whether he’s having good at-bats, making slick defensive plays on the infield or opening eyes with his smart aggressiveness on the bases, Vargas has made a sort of under-the-radar push for a bench spot on the club’s Opening Day roster.