Former SF Giants catcher and longtime major leaguer set to retire after 2022

The 2022 season is coming to a closer, which means the end of a career for a former SF Giants catcher and popular major leaguer. At the end of September, Stephen Vogt confirmed that would be hanging up his spikes, but it does not feel like he will step too far away from baseball.

Former SF Giants catcher and longtime major leaguer set to retire after 2022

The Tampa Bay Rays selected the left-handed bat in the 12th round of the 2007 draft out of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. The odds for any draft pick making it to the majors are not great, and that is especially true for players picked after the fifth round like Vogt.

That did not deter Vogt as he debuted with the Rays in 2012. That debut did not go well as he recorded 25 hitless at-bats. Vogt's contract was purchased by the Oakland A's at the start of the 2013 season where he would begin to make a name for himself in the majors.

The veteran backstop put together some very productive seasons with the A's including a .265/327/.432 line (112 OPS+) with an 8.6 percent walk rate against a 17.3 percent strikeout rate in his first three seasons with Oakland. Vogt earned two All-Star selections with the A's but his performance began to dip as he battled a career-threatening shoulder injury.

After missing all of 2018 season, he became a free agent where he signed a minor league pact with the Giants. There were no assurance of playing time but the Giants did not have a viable backup catcher behind Buster Posey as they went into the 2019 season.

The 37-year-old catcher immediately made an impact with the Giants as he blasted a clutch solo shot to help the Giants make a stunning comeback against the Cincinnati Reds in an early May game in 2019. In total, he posted an .804 OPS with 10 home runs in a Giants uniform while serving as a leader in the clubhouse. Despite his brief stay with San Francisco, he was a very popular player among fans.

The veteran made stops with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, and the A's in the next three seasons. Vogt has expressed his desire to become a manager in the future and that is a role that seems like it would fit him well. Catchers typically make excellent managers - Hello, Bruce Bochy.

Even though his playing days are coming to an end, I think he will find a role with an organization pretty quickly. Of course, the A's seem like a perfect fit. We at Around the Foghorn would like to congratulate Vogt on such a nice career and wish him the best in his future endeavors.