Two-time All-Star and fan-favorite Stephen Vogt has decided to retire from Major League Baseball at the end of the 2022 season. The veteran catcher shared his plans to call it a career after ten years in the big-leagues with Janie McCauley of the Associated Press.
Originally a twelfth-round pick by the Rays in 2007, Vogt made his MLB debut with Tampa in 2012 at age 27, going hitless in all 25 of his at-bats during his first season. Traded to Oakland the following April, Vogt saw his hitless streak extend to 0-for-32 before finally connecting on his first hit (a home run).
Despite his slow start, Vogt quickly endeared himself to A’s fans with his heroics in the 2013 postseason. In the ninth inning of a scoreless Game 2 of the ALDS, Vogt lined a single with the bases loaded to walk off the Tigers and even the series at one game apiece.
Vogt’s role expanded during the 2014 season, logging a total of 84 games as a catcher, first baseman, left fielder, right fielder, and designated hitter. To the tune of a .279/.321/.431 slash, Vogt helped propel the A’s to a wild card berth. To this day, cheers of “I believe in Stephen Vogt!” continue to ring out at RingCentral Coliseum during his plate-appearances — a callback to his original stint in green and gold.
The next few years would see Vogt develop into one of the most dependable and productive catchers in the league. From 2014 to 2016, he swatted 41 home runs, drove in 162 runs, and posted a wRC+ of 105, good for seventh amongst catchers. Though he spent most of his prime years behind the dish, Vogt continued to collect innings at first base, left field, and right field, for Oakland. His blend of offensive production with defensive versatility earned him nods to the American League All-Star team in 2015 and 2016.
The A’s designated Vogt for assignment in June of 2017 after he struggled during the first half. He finished the season in Milwaukee, where he accumulated a .789 OPS for a contending Brewers team. Just when Vogt looked as if he was back on track, a shoulder injury kept him out for all of 2018, threatening his career. When the Giants gave him an opportunity by signing him to a minor-league deal at the beginning of 2019, Vogt relished it. He slashed .263/.314/.490, hit 10 home runs in 99 games, and re-established himself as a productive big-leaguer.
Vogt went on to spend the COVID-shortened 2020 and the beginning of 2021 with the Diamondbacks, before being traded to the Atlanta Braves, with whom he earned a World Series ring. Oakland welcomed him back on a one-year contract at the beginning of 2022, where he will finish his playing career. Altogether, Vogt will have amassed with well over 700 games played, more than 500 hits, and nearly $14MM earned by the time his season ends. Vogt himself summed up his roller coaster career, telling McCauley:
“I haven’t always been the best player. I’ve been one of the best players in the league, I’ve been one of the worst players in the league. I’ve been injured and everywhere in between, I’ve been DFA’d twice, I’ve been traded, I’ve been non-tendered, you name it. I’ve been the guy that knew he was going to have a job next year to the guy that had to fight for his job next year, and just always go out and earn it.”
Though his retirement spells the end of his playing career, it seems that Vogt will not be able to stay away from the game for long. Renowned for his clubhouse presence and reputation as a beloved teammate, Vogt drew high praise from former A’s (now Padres) manager Bob Melvin, who told McCauley that he is bullish on Vogt’s managerial potential: “What he means to a clubhouse is immeasurable… [Vogt] definitely has a future in managing.”
Vogt himself said in 2020 that he’s “always wanted to manage,” so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him mentioned in potential coaching and managerial searches down the line.
I always liked Vogt. I think he should be offering a bench managing role of sorts with the young A’s in order to assist skipper Mark Kotsay. The sky is the limit with his leadership and knowledge of the game.
I believe in Stephen Vogt’s retirement.
I’d Vogt for that.
He should sign a 10day with the Mets for a ring.
This isn’t the NBA, there are no 10 day contracts in Baseball. He got a ring with the Braves last season
Something tells me the Mets part of your username will change based off the outcome of the 2022 world series.
Was that comment supposed to be a joke ? The Met’s and ring.
A ring for what, blowing the division lead?
The realmetsfan22; not sure that he would sign with the Mets as not sure wild card teams get rings
I really like that quote from him. Hopefully he does end up becoming a manager once he wraps up his playing career here shortly; seems like a cool guy.
The quintessential journeyman. Happy retirement Stephen Vogt!
Vogt made his MLB debut with Tampa in 2012 at age 27, going hitless in all 25 of his at-bats during his first season.
Persistence.
Good for him.
He always seemed to get a big hit against us as an A.
4 years ago I finally met him at a Giants spring training game. He signed for nephew and a group of kids, taking time to chat with the kids and parents. Very nice guy who absolutely loves playing baseball.
Happy trails.
I hope he’s the next A’s or Giants manager
Kotsay isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Unfortunately for Giants fans Kapler probably isn’t either
What makes you think Kotsay has shown anything this season that he’s a good manager? I mean it is his first year so there is leeway there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Vogt over Kotsay at the end of the year, let Kotsay try somewhere else.
Everyone loves, and I mean LOVES Stephen Vogt. As in, not a phony like other players, he actually is a Pujols-level good guy off the field with a massive baseball IQ who has no flags in his background (unless there was shady stuff happening in Atlanta when he was there, which is very doubtful but we cant assume anything about anyone until proven innocent anymore, nature of this game these days).
Kotsay isn’t getting fired after one year when the team knew it was going to be bad. Vogt will get a chance somewhere but probably not for a couple of years (maybe he tries coaching first)
Hey if you for sure know this, then you know the future and who wins this years World Series – let me know that!
popular with a’s fans (both of them)
*rim shot*
In the game today, Vogt responded to his announcement by hitting a bases-clearing triple. Incredible. Baseball is great.
Good luck Stephen!
One of the bayst
I believe in Stephen Vogt!
see you in cooperstown, Mr Vogt
An integral fragment of some of the most fun A’s teams I had the pleasure of watching as a fan. Hope we see him back in the dugout sooner than later!
I have always felt Vogt was more suited to the broadcast booth with his personality and sense of humor.
Stephen spent time up in SE MA when he was in Tampa’s system and he was actually my hitting coach for a period during that time. Great guy with an inspirational work ethic! Congrats on a solid decade in the Show
Bay area sports fan here – absolutely loved Vogt. Tried starting the “I believe” chants when I was at the Giants stadium and no one knew what I was talking about! Lol
I was there for the walk off in 2013 as well. Btw, the walk off was not off Verlander, who had been pulled from the game earlier, but it was really cool to see Sonny Gray match him inning for inning. I bought a Gray jersey because of that game…
Do you have one of those half and half A’s Giants hats?
Thought he already retired?
Vogt has shown great consistency the since 2020 season – a few seasons more, he could get his batting line named after him.
Slightly surprised he didn’t try for one more year to pass 10-years service time and a full pension. He’ll finish this year with nine and change. No guarantee he would have found a team as his production has slipped, but the same could have been said the last few seasons. Maybe the A’s already told him he wasn’t coming back. Does seem like a good coaching candidate.
And, of course, the Giants won’t have the common sense to hire him into their organization.
If another team hires him as janitor and DFA’s him then Farhad will pick him up on waivers.