Each player’s profile includes links to their individual stats and contract details on Baseball-Reference, their PuRPs voting stats, a 2024 season update, and a scouting report from a national prospect writer where available. Additionally, I’ll share where I personally ranked each player on my ballot. Ages are accurate as of the article’s publication date.

One notable prospect, Vargas, was a standout from Colorado’s January 2021 amateur free agent class, signing for $500k from the Dominican Republic. At 6’3” and 153 pounds, the 20-year-old right-handed starter comes from MLB lineage, being the son of pitcher Yorkis Perez, who played nine seasons in the big leagues. Vargas possesses a dynamic pitch mix, including a mid-90s fastball, a potential plus curveball, a promising changeup, and consistent strike-throwing ability.

In 2022, Vargas split his time between the complex league and Low-A Fresno, where he began the 2023 season. As one of the youngest players in the California League, he faced older competition but held his own, posting a 4.22 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, a 9.7 K/9 rate, and a 3.4 BB/9 rate over 64 innings across 13 starts. Right-handed hitters managed just a .202 batting average against him.

Vargas was on track to break into the top 10 of the PuRPs list before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023, which sidelined him for the rest of the year. His 2024 season has been focused on rehab, a setback for both him and Rockies fans eager to see his progression. A return to form is hoped for in 2025 when Vargas will still be only 21 years old.

Vargas is regarded as a highly projectable pitcher with a loose arm action and a devastating curveball. Before his surgery, he was already hitting 93-95 mph with his fastball, which featured tailing action. His curveball was a knee-buckler, and his changeup showed promise. Although his fastball’s shape didn’t perfectly complement his curveball, his ability to throw strikes and his smooth delivery projected well for a future starting role.

There are concerns about whether Vargas can add enough weight and strength to endure as a starter, and his professional maturity is still developing. For now, his primary focus is on rehabilitating his elbow, with hopes of a full return in 2025.

Before his injury, Vargas was considered one of the Rockies’ top pitching prospects, with the potential to become a solid mid-rotation starter. However, his future now hinges on how well he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

The good news for the Rockies is that Vargas won’t be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft until after the 2025 season, giving the team time to evaluate his progress against more advanced hitters. I ranked Vargas 11th on my ballot, acknowledging the risk associated with his surgery, although his talent level suggests he could be closer to the top tier of prospects in the system