Baseball's longest hitting streak in nearly five years came to a dramatic halt Saturday afternoon at the iconic Wrigley Field. Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, who had been on an absolute tear, was finally held hitless for the first time this season—and for the first time since September 25 of last year—as the Cubs edged Arizona 2-0.
Vargas's remarkable 27-game hitting streak, which matched Trea Turner's 27-game run spanning the 2021-2022 seasons, was the longest in Major League Baseball since then. "I'm living a dream right now," Vargas shared after extending the streak to 27 games on Friday. "I'm taking advantage of my moment, and I've arrived at the right moment. But honestly, what I really want is that the team continues to have success."
On Saturday, Vargas went 0-for-4, grounding out to third in the first inning, flying out to center in the fourth, and grounding out to shortstop in both the seventh and ninth innings. The switch-hitter faced tough competition all day, seeing lefty Shota Imanaga in his first three at-bats before righty Ben Brown closed things out in the ninth.
Despite the streak ending, Vargas etched his name into the record books. His 27-game hitting streak set a new MLB record for a Venezuelan-born player, surpassing previous greats from his home country. Even more impressive, Vargas hit safely in all 24 of his games to start the 2026 season—the longest season-opening hitting streak since Ron LeFlore's 30-game run with the Tigers in 1970. For context, Hall of Famer George Sisler holds the record with a 34-game streak to begin the 1925 season, which stood as baseball's longest until Joe DiMaggio's legendary 56-game streak in 1941.
The 34-year-old Vargas has been a true revelation for Arizona this year, posting a stellar .388/.412/.673 slash line even after Saturday's quiet outing. He's already tied his career high with six home runs, thanks to some key swing adjustments that have boosted his line-drive rate significantly. Before 2026, Vargas had never hit safely in more than 10 consecutive games—a testament to how far he's come.
A journeyman who has played for seven teams across parts of 10 MLB seasons, Vargas is now in his third stint with the Diamondbacks. His hot bat has been a bright spot for Arizona, and while the streak is over, his story is far from finished. For fans and collectors alike, this is the kind of performance that makes a player's jersey or cap a must-have piece of baseball history.