Long Beach State University Athletics
The Beach Suits Vargas
6/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
The Beach Suits Vargas Just Fine LONG BEACH - When people talk about the Long Beach State baseball team, the first name that comes to mind is Jered Weaver. But even though Weaver, the 49ers' star pitcher and probable No.1 pick in the June major-league draft, has gotten most of the accolades, Jason Vargas has been just as valuable to Long Beach by becoming the 49ers' best all-around player. Vargas, a former Apple Valley High School star, has helped Long Beach at the plate and on the mound, proving that it is possible to do double-duty at the major-college level. "We haven't had many of these two-way guys,' 49ers coach Mike Weathers said. "It's hard in college to do both. But Jason's really strong mentally. He's a very strong-willed competitor.' As Long Beach (36-19) prepares to take on St. John's in the opening round of the NCAA Regionals in Palo Alto today, Vargas will be counted on to produce with his bat and his arm, and he has shown a talent for doing both well this season. Vargas, a junior left-hander who was named to the all-Big West Conference first team this season, leads the 49ers with a .368 batting average, is second on the team with five home runs and is fifth with 32 RBI while serving as the team's designated hitter. His slugging percentage of .551 and on-base percentage of .485 are both team highs. On the mound, Vargas is 7-6 with a 4.25 ERA as the team's third starter. Opposing batters are hitting just .246 against him. The 6-foot, 215-pound Vargas is the 49ers' only player who is in the everyday lineup and pitches full-time. He has made 15 starts on the mound, only two fewer than Weaver and Cesar Ramos, who lead Long Beach with 17 starts each. "I think I've helped the team in both areas,'said Vargas, who played one season at Louisiana State and one at Cypress College before joining the 49ers this season. "But I wouldn't say I've done better at one or the other. "Obviously, I think my (future pro) career is on the mound. If it so happens that I end up being an offensive player, then that's what it is, but I love one just as much as the other.' His desire two be a two-way player, and his ability to not let one aspect affect the other, has been the key to his success, Vargas said. "When it's time to hit, you can't think about pitching,' Vargas said. "And if you've had a bad inning on the mound, you can't take that to the plate with you. I just try to block each of them out. "Sometimes, it's hard if you're having a rough day, but that's the biggest key to succeeding in both, is to keep one separate from the other.' Long Beach coaches wondered whether or not Vargas who was a first-baseman/pitcher in high school and junior college could handle hitting full-time while mustering the concentration and stamina needed to be a starting pitcher. "The big concern coming in was, how was he going to be able to do it, the stamina part of it, DH-ing for two games and then hitting the same day he pitches,' 49ers hitting coach Don Barbara said. "But the guy is phenomenal shape, and he's been able to handle it. Not too many guys can.' Weathers installed Vargas as the designated hitter instead of playing him at first for two reasons: The presence of three-year starter Mike Hofius at first, and to save Vargas' arm. Then Barbara and 49ers' pitching coach Troy Buckley each helped Vargas make adjustments that were vital. On the mound, Buckley got Vargas to raise his arm angle, which increased the velocity of his pitches. "He's up to 94 miles per hour now,' Weathers said. "It's made a world of difference.' Barbara advised Vargas to keep his hands back more at the plate, and the results have been dramatic. Before the change, Vargas was hitting .280 with eight RBI in the 49ers' first 25 games. In the last 30 games, he is hitting .437 with 24 RBI. "By pushing his hands back, Jason got into a better power position to get to certain pitches,' Barbara said. "He's been doing everything, turning on balls, hitting balls the other way.' Vargas was a standout two-way player at Apple Valley, hitting .450 and notching 20 victories on the mound during his high-school career. He chose LSU despite being drafted in the 43rd round by the Minnesota Twins, but after being named to Collegiate Baseball's freshman all-American team in 2002, he left Baton Rouge because of "personal differences.' He helped Cypress College win the state championship last season, earning JC all-America honors as he hit .374 with nine home runs and 49 RBI and had an 11-3 record on the mound. Long Beach, which did not recruit Vargas out of high school, did not let him get away a second time. "He mixed right in,' Weathers said. "It's like he's been here three years.' Vargas said that he expects to start his pro career after this season, depending on where he is selected in the draft. It is likely he will be drafted as a pitcher, but he said he is willing to play any position. "I'll be happy to do whatever any team asks me to do,' Vargas said. |
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