Before accepting the Cleveland Guardians managerial job a couple of months ago, Stephen Vogt was a solid MLB catcher for 11 years.
His playing career extended from 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays to 2022 with the Oakland Athletics.
The A’s were the organization for which he played the longest: six seasons in total.
He was a fine hitter with a career .707 OPS and 82 home runs, which are better than your average MLB catcher these days.
But Vogt retired in 2022 knowing that he would get a chance to pursue one of his dreams: managing an MLB team.
After spending the 2023 season with the Seattle Mariners as their bullpen and quality control coach, the Guardians are giving him his golden chance.
As fate has it, Vogt will debut as a skipper against the A’s.
Who would have thought?
It will be the 11th time that happens, per MLB stats expert Sarah Langs.
“Stephen Vogt will be the 11th manager in the expansion era (1961) to make his managerial debut against the final team he played for during his time as a player. First since Bo Porter with 2013 Astros vs Rangers, after his final game played was in 2001 for TEX,” she tweeted, crediting Elias Sports Bureau.
Stephen Vogt will be the 11th manager in the expansion era (1961) to make his managerial debut against the final team he played for during his time as a player
first since Bo Porter with 2013 Astros vs Rangers, after his final game played was in 2001 for TEX
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/Brw7hKazgi
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) January 23, 2024
To make things more intense for Vogt, he will be returning to the Oakland Coliseum for that first series of the season.
So many memories will come to mind, including postseason chases and actual playoff games.
A feeling of nostalgia will surely take over, as the Coliseum has its days numbered as the home of the A’s.
Now, Vogt is with another franchise, and he will do everything in his power to win for the Guards.
NEXT: Former Guardians Pitcher Drawing Interest In Free Agency
