Retired catcher Stephen Vogt is joining the Seattle Mariners as a bullpen and quality control coach, fulfilling his goal to go right into coaching.
The 38-year-old Vogt called it a career after his 10th major league season in 2022. He will join the staff of manager Scott Servais, whose club returned to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years last season.
"I am beyond excited to be joining the Mariners' organization and major league coaching staff," Vogt told The Associated Press. "This next chapter of my career is one I am ready for and thrilled to be beginning in Seattle."
Coaching has long been his calling. From Bruce Bochy and Craig Counsell to more recently A's manager Mark Kotsay, many have vouched for Vogt's ability to one day become a manager. Now, he's taking the first step in that path.
Vogt was a career .239 hitter with 82 home runs and 313 RBIs with Tampa Bay, Oakland, Arizona, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Atlanta.
He began his big league career with an 0-for-32 hitless stretch that started with the Rays and ended with the A's in 2013. A few months later, in October 2013, he produced his first career game-winning hit with a single off Rick Porcello in the playoffs for a 1-0 win against the Tigers that sent the best-of-five AL Division Series back to Detroit tied at 1.
After striking out twice against Justin Verlander, Vogt fouled off seven pitches in a 10-pitch at-bat that ended the seventh with his third K. Vogt's next time up, he lined a bases-loaded single into left-center that won the game.