A’s Stephen Vogt to retire after 2022 season

Two-time All-Star and fan favourite Stephen Vogt has determined to retire from Main League Baseball on the finish of the 2022 season. The veteran catcher shared his plans to name it a profession after 10 years within the huge leagues with Janie McCauley of the Associated Press. 

Initially a Twelfth-round choose 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 throughout his first season. Traded to Oakland the next April, Vogt noticed his hitless streak prolong to 0-for-32 earlier than lastly connecting on his first hit (a house run).

Regardless of his sluggish begin, Vogt shortly endeared himself to A’s followers together with his heroics within the 2013 postseason. Dealing with Justin Verlander within the ninth inning of a scoreless Recreation 2 of the ALDS, Vogt lined a single with the bases loaded to stroll off the Tigers and even the collection at one recreation apiece.

Vogt’s position expanded through the 2014 season, logging a complete of 84 video games as a catcher, first baseman, left fielder, proper 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 today, cheers of “I consider in Stephen Vogt!” proceed to ring out at RingCentral Coliseum throughout his plate-appearances — a callback to his authentic stint in inexperienced and gold.

The subsequent few years would see Vogt turn into some of the reliable and productive catchers within the league. From 2014 to 2016, he swatted 41 house runs, drove in 162 runs and posted a wRC+ of 105, good for seventh amongst catchers. Although he spent most of his prime years behind the dish, Vogt continued to gather innings at first base, left area and proper area for Oakland. His mix of offensive manufacturing with defensive versatility earned him nods to the American League All-Star group in 2015 and 2016.

The A’s designated Vogt for task in June 2017 after he struggled through the first half. He completed the season in Milwaukee, the place he accrued a .789 OPS for a contending Brewers group. Simply when Vogt appeared as if he was again on observe, a shoulder harm stored him out for all of 2018, threatening his profession. When the Giants gave him a possibility by signing him to a minor-league deal initially of 2019, Vogt relished it. He slashed .263/.314/.490, hit 10 house runs in 99 video games and re-established himself as a productive big-leaguer.

Vogt went on to spend the COVID-shortened 2020 and the start of 2021 with the Diamondbacks earlier than being traded to the Atlanta Braves, with whom he earned a World Collection ring. Oakland welcomed him again on a one-year contract initially of 2022, the place he’ll end his enjoying profession. Altogether, Vogt may have amassed with nicely over 700 video games performed, greater than 500 hits and almost $14M earned by the point his season ends. Vogt himself summed up his roller-coaster profession, telling McCauley:

“I haven’t all the time been the perfect participant. I’ve been among the finest gamers within the league, I’ve been one of many worst gamers within the league. I’ve been injured and in every single place in between, I’ve been DFA’d twice, I’ve been traded, I’ve been non-tendered, you title it. I’ve been the man that knew he was going to have a job subsequent yr to the man that needed to struggle for his job subsequent yr, and simply all the time exit and earn it.”

Although his retirement spells the tip of his enjoying profession, it appears that evidently Vogt won’t be able to avoid the sport for lengthy. Famend for his clubhouse presence and repute as a beloved teammate, Vogt drew excessive reward from former A’s (now Padres) supervisor Bob Melvin, who instructed McCauley that he’s bullish on Vogt’s managerial potential: “What he means to a clubhouse is immeasurable… [Vogt] undoubtedly has a future in managing.”

Vogt himself said in 2020 that he’s “all the time wished to handle,” so it shouldn’t be a shock to see him talked about in potential teaching and managerial searches down the road.