Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt announced Thursday that he is retiring after this season.
The two-time All-Star has spent 5 1/2 of his 10 big-league seasons with the Athletics. He was an American League All-Star for Oakland in 2015 and 2016.
Vogt, 37, has a .239 career average with 81 homers and 309 RBIs in 785 games. His best season was 2015 when he established career highs of 18 homers and 71 RBIs.
“I haven’t always been the best player,” Vogt said. “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.”
Vogt first reached the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 before playing the next 4 1/2 seasons with the Athletics. He was waived in June 2017 and the Milwaukee Brewers claimed him.
He missed the 2018 season due to major surgery on his throwing shoulder. He then bounced around to the San Francisco Giants (2019), Arizona Diamondbacks (2020-21) and Atlanta Braves (2021) before returning to Oakland this season.
This season, Vogt is batting just .166 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 61 games.
–Field Level Media