After a 10-year career, the former Cougar has decided to hang it up.
Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt, retired from Major League Baseball last week after a long, respectable career. The APU alum announced his retirement in September and played his final game against the Anaheim Angels.
Vogt’s last game in Oakland was a special moment for both Vogt and the franchise. In his first at-bat, Vogt’s three children made their way to the booth and announced their dad. Later, during his final at-bat as a Major League player, Vogt crushed a fastball over the right field wall for a home run.
As he excitedly rounded the bases, Vogt let his emotions show. “I was just like, ‘Let your 2-year-old boy just come out, let the little kid in you that used to play on his front yard and pretend to be Will Clark, let that come out,’ and I did and I just enjoyed every second of it,” Vogt told NBC Bay Area.
Vogt began his career in 2007 after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th round of the MLB draft, spending time in the minor leagues before making his official MLB debut with the Rays in 2012.
Vogt spent only one season in Tampa Bay before being traded to the Athletics in 2013, where he played until 2017 before being cut. He was then signed by the Milwaukee Brewers before bouncing around to the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves before returning to Oakland in 2022.
While at Azusa Pacific University, Vogt set nine school records from 2003-2007. Some of the records include the highest career batting average, hits, doubles, walks and RBIs.Vogt graduated in 2007 and was inducted into the APU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
As a Major League player, Vogt will be remembered for his hard work and personality. At 60-102, the Oakland A’s missed the playoffs by a longshot. However, this didn’t stop Stephen Vogt from suiting up in full catcher equipment and putting in extra work before their final game.
Vogt also retires with a number of awards and honors; he was a two-time All-Star with the Athletics in 2015 and 2016 and won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Vogt was also a two-time recipient of the Oakland Athletics Dave Stewart Service Award for charitable donations and work across northern California.
Vogt officially retired with a .239 batting average, 82 home runs, 560 hits and 313 RBIs.