What happened: Miguel Vargas earned All-Star honors during a full-season breakout. He added 20 steals and took Player of the Week after a 3-homer week.
Why it matters: The production helped lift the club from three straight 100-loss seasons into a postseason berth. His 704 plate appearances marked the heaviest workload since Adam Eaton logged 706.
By the numbers: 33 HR, 102 runs, 20 steals; 704 plate appearances; 3 HR in Player of the Week span.
What to watch: October lineup placement and the opening-series matchup will define his next test.