Former MLB pitcher Jason Vargas helping Estrella Foothills baseball find success

Things lined up just right in Sean Iverson's first season leading Goodyear Estrella Foothills' baseball team.

Freshman Josh Vargas was starting his career there. Then, Josh's dad, Jason, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, joined the staff.

But it took a little effort on Iverson's part to keep the family rooted at Estrella Foothills and for Jason to be part of this year's 22-win season that could put the Wolves at No. 2, opposite No. 1 Scottsdale Saguaro, to start the 4A state playoffs in a couple of weeks.

"When I first got the job, I knew that Jason Vargas' son was coming into the program," Iverson said. "But some people told me they might transfer because they didn't know what the coaching situation was going to be.

"So I told Jason right away. And in that conversation, I offered him the pitching coach job. Every time passing from there on, I would offer it again. He would say something joking. He had other things going. A retired MLB player. He's set for life. He just bought a wine business."

Then, out of the blue, Vargas sent Iverson a text message for him to call him.

"He said, 'Hey, I think I'll take that pitching coach job,' " Iverson said. "Man, it was a prayer answered."

Jason Vargas, a 14-year pitcher in the major leagues who retired in 2019, has been a key to the Wolves' season, helping a pitching staff that is hovering at a 2.00 earned-run average.

Even though Vargas' son had to shut down pitching after the first game due to his elbow flaring up, Josh Vargas has been one of the Wolves' most consistent batters, hitting .351 with 23 RBIs, four doubles, a triple, and three home runs.

Josh's addition has been a great mix with four-year starting infielder Brock De Battista, who has had a big bounce-back season, hitting .387 with 29 hits, 22 RBIs, nine doubles and four triples.

"I was kind of pressing a little my junior year," said De Battista, who hit .420 his freshman year on varsity, .410 his sophomore year and .322 last year. "I just relaxed a little, had fun, and let's see where things go."

This season has been great not just for the team but also for the Vargas family, with father and son sharing in the success. Jason Vargas coached Josh's travel team for the last two years, so this isn't anything new for Josh, who has a younger brother, Lucas, 10, who also plays baseball.

"I don't really think about it," Josh said of the pressure of being the son of a former Major League Baseball All-Star. "I've always loved it."

Jason Vargas, 43, pitched in the majors from 2005 to 2019, with his best season coming in 2017 when he went 18-11 for the Kansas City Royals, logging 179.2 innings. It was his most wins in a season since he won 14 games in 2012 with the Seattle Mariners.

Iverson said Vargas simplified things to the pitchers, who ware led by senior Cody Rollings (9-0, 0.43 ERA) and junior Jordan Linton (7-0, 2.02 ERA).

"How he simplifies things is the best thing a coach can do, especially at this level," said Iverson, a former Ottawa University assistant coach. "He'll tell you visual stuff you can see and feel, instead of breaking it down A, B, C, D, E.

"Statistics show what they can do. Some of these guys have really blossomed on the mound. He talks about breaking two planes. I learned a ton from him. Just in terms of what pitchers are trying to do get hitters out. It's more using the stuff you already have and not trying to change it and using it to your advantage."

Jason says he loves being on a baseball field, and to be able to help his son and the Estrella Foothills players find success makes it sweeter.

"It's good to be in an environment where there are a bunch of young guys looking to do similar things and be able to take advantage of what baseball has to offer, whether it be playing in junior college, at the four-year level, the professional level, it just opens so many doors," Jason Vargas said. "Any group of young guys can use that as an avenue to build relationships and move forward. I feel lucky to be part of a bunch of guys who want to do that. And have the ability to what brings you down the line. You'll never know until someone takes a jersey from you."

Estrella Foothills players don't walk around in awe of their pitching coach, although several of them remember him pitching in the big leagues.

"There are so many big leaguers out there, and I'm a little bit removed from where these guys are," Jason said. "As big as baseball is, even your good players (aren't well-known). I'm sure they do (know me) because they know my son and lived in this community for a while."

Josh Vargas has always been a two-way player, so he's happy to contribute on varsity as a freshman.

Estrella Foothills is ranked No. 2 behind Scottsdale Saguaro in the AIA playoff seeding rankings.

"As the season started to progress, we started getting closer to each other," Josh said. "We started winning games. We started winning and winning and winning. It's been fun."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former MLB pitcher Jason Vargas helping Estrella Foothills baseball