AL WILD CARD SERIES: WHITE SOX VS ASTROS

September 28, 2026

Miguel Vargas

Daikin Park

Chicago White Sox

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. We've talked a lot to you guys this year about the growth you've made from the last two years. What do you remember when you came here in 2024? You had a really rough start, and kind of just how you've improved every year to kind of get to where you are now?

MIGUEL VARGAS: It feels great. It feels great where we are right now. I feel this is for what we play for, and, you know, it was a like a reconstruction year for us. The way we handled this year I know a lot of guys don't believe that we can make this change so fast and so soon. You know, I think we all believe in each other, and it has been a great journey for me, for sure.

Q. Chris was just talking to us. He was talking to Will, and Will was saying he can't wait for tomorrow. Is that the feeling for you guys too in obviously you're going through your workouts today, doing your prep and all that, but are you just waiting for that first pitch at this point?

MIGUEL VARGAS: Yeah, 100%. I think we've all been excited for tomorrow. I think we're all very proud of what we've been doing this year and where we are right now. We feel that we all deserve to be where we are.

We all know it's going to be important day for all of us, and a lot of us has experience, you know, a game like this tomorrow. We are all very excited for what we can do out there.

Q. I know that that picture of you in the dugout has been going around the last couple of weeks again. Can you think back to that moment and where you are now and just how that journey has been for you and just how fast the turnaround has been?

MIGUEL VARGAS: Yeah, I know, it has been a long way for me too. You know, a lot of rough nights and tough days, but I think that's why I enjoying this moment I guess a little bit more than what I suppose to because I know how hard I worked for this moment and for being in this position where we are right now.

I'm very proud of my teammates to have helped me during the year and helped me, pushed me every single day. It has been so fun to play around them and go to the ballpark with them and hang out and go win baseball game and, you know, prove some people wrong, too. I think that has been fun, and that has been the best part about it.

Q. Miguel, last time you guys were in this building the beginning of September, late August, you were in one of your more difficult stretches of the year. How do you feel like the team is playing better, or how is your brand of baseball different than what you guys were kind of dealing with at that time?

MIGUEL VARGAS: Like I say, I think we're in a great position, way better position right now at this moment than the last time we played them during the season. I think it's a whole new scenario for us. For them, too. It's a playoff game, and we all, both teams, know how important it is, and we're ready, and we're excited for where it's come too.

Q. Just what's made your partnership, relationship with Murakami just so unique and so special, and how did you guys become such fast friends?

MIGUEL VARGAS: I think we both have a really good relationship since day one. You know, he's a special guy. He's a guy that you want to be around and learning. His work ethic is unbelievable, and he cares about win. He is a winner. He has won in Japan. He won WBC, and then he came here, and now we're in the playoffs.

You know, but beside the field, I think I have a great conversation with him outside the field and some personal conversation then I will save with me, because that been help me a lot. I think he's one of my best friend and it's been a player to be with him on the field this year.