If we're being honest, the 2026 MLB All-Star game was boring. Perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers were partially to blame, considering Shohei Ohtani's injury scare and Yoshinobu Yamamoto not pitching, but the game itself was a lull. The American League jumped out to a 3-0 lead, thanks to Cody Bellinger, and never looked back.
There was another former Dodgers that turned heads on Tuesday. During Miguel Vargas' run in LA, there was a consensus that if he were ever given extended runway to play, he could develop into a talented hitter. It took some time, and a trade to the Chicago White Sox, but Vargas certainly has reached that potential.
Vargas hit a solo home run in the eighth inning on Tuesday night to cap the victory for the American League, and it felt like his arrival as one of the best players in all of baseball. Of course, it was former-Dodger-on-current-Dodger-crime, considering Vargas hit the home run off Justin Wrobleski.
Miguel Vargas with a BLAST for the first home run in tonight's All-Star game! pic.twitter.com/YQbfnsqFhi
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
Dodgers bros were reunited during the 2026 MLB All-Star game
The All-Star game also served as Dodgers reunion for Vargas. Even with his success with the White Sox, he still speaks fondly of his time in Los Angeles. It's also been evident that Vargas made an impression teammates during his time with the organization. Specifically, fellow All-Star Andy Pages.
Before the game on Tuesday night, Vargas spoke about his friendship with Pages. The two were top prospects in LA at the same time, so it makes sense that their career would be intertwined. Playing with different teams hasn't changed that connection.
Miguel Vargas speaks on his friendship with Andy Pages & what it means to make their first All-Star game together:
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 14, 2026
“My mom loves Andy as her son. We played all Minor League together, he was my roommate in Triple-A.”
“It means a lot for me, he’s my brother.” 🥲
🎥: @mlbnetwork pic.twitter.com/eVkGOgHOSD
In fact, one of the best moments of the night was Pages chasing down a ball hit by Vargas in the fifth. It certainly looked like it would fall in, securing Vargas' first hit of the night, but Pages made sure that wasn't the case.
Sure, it would have been great to see Ohtani hits tanks into the Philadelphia night, and Yamamoto shut down the American League, but the moment between Vargas and Pages was a fun consolation prize. If nothing else, it was a reminder of what the All-Star game is truly about, and the connection that goes beyond the game itself.
