Diamondbacks' Vargas Hits in 23 Straight Games to Start Season

After parts of 10 seasons bouncing around the majors, Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas is finally having his moment.

Vargas extended his hitting streak to 23 games Thursday with a pair of singles against the Brewers, tying for the second-longest streak to open a season since 1940. Only Ron LeFlore's 30-game streak in 1976 stands ahead of him, while Vargas matches Edgar Renteria's 23-game run from 2006.

The 33-year-old's streak actually stretches back 26 games to last season, making it the longest active hitting streak in baseball. His fourth-inning single Thursday drove in Arizona's only run in a tough 13-1 loss to Milwaukee, but Vargas gave fans something to celebrate despite the score.

"He's always been a baseball player," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after the game. "He's playing with a freedom. He knows himself. As you mature as a player and get more time, you can find pockets like this."

Why This Inspires

Vargas represents every player who kept showing up despite setbacks. He's on his third stint with the Diamondbacks alone, never a star but always reliable. His performance proves better than his measurable tools, the kind of grit that doesn't show up in scouting reports.

Among Diamondbacks greats, Vargas now ranks third in single-season hitting streaks behind Luis Gonzalez's 30-game run in 1999 and Tony Womack's 24 games in 2000. His 26-game streak spanning two seasons ties him with franchise legend Paul Goldschmidt.

What makes this streak special isn't just the numbers. It's watching a journeyman find his groove after a decade of proving himself. It's the reminder that baseball rewards persistence as much as talent.

Sometimes the best stories aren't about the superstars but about the players who finally get their moment to shine.