Cleveland Guardians hire Stephen Vogt as manager

To replace baseball’s longest-tenured manager and the winningest manager in Cleveland history, the Guardians are turning to a journeyman catcher a year removed from retirement who turned 39 last week.

Stephen Vogt, a charismatic leader in big-league clubhouses for a decade, will direct the next era of Cleveland baseball. Vogt has the least experience of any candidate the Guardians seriously considered to replace Terry Francona, but the organization is betting on his demeanor and communication skills.

“Stephen earned a reputation as one of the best teammates in the game across his 16-year career as a player, and we’ve greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him over the past several weeks,” Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, said in a statement. “Stephen has thought critically about the type of leader and manager he wants to be. His deep care for others, his ability to build meaningful relationships with those around him, and his open-mindedness and curiosity make him an ideal fit to lead our club moving forward. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Stephen.”

Vogt couldn’t be a greater contrast from Francona in terms of experience. Francona was old enough to be a grandfather to the Guardians’ youthful clubhouse. Vogt, meanwhile, hit a home run in a major-league game less than 400 days ago. He spent last season as Seattle’s bullpen and quality control coach.

Where he might resemble Francona, however — and how the Guardians hope he can connect with his players and fellow coaches — is with his personality and his presence.

He’s been a compelling figure in the league for years, a part-time catcher who had Oakland fans chanting for him like preteens anticipating the on-stage arrival of a pop star. For years, “I believe in Stephen Vogt” shouts echoed throughout the cavernous coliseum by the bay anytime he mustered some offense. He bonded with teammates with his Chris Farley impersonations, his singing and his exaggerated mimicking of NBA referees — and with the harsh reality of his career.

He was a 12th-round pick from Azusa Pacific University. He went hitless in his first 32 big-league at-bats. He played for six teams in 10 seasons. He clawed his way onto two All-Star teams, but his exploits never came easy. He considered bailing while toiling away in the minors. He played winter ball. He dealt with significant shoulder injuries that hampered his work behind the plate. The experiences, more than anything, made him relatable to so many people he crossed paths with in the game.

When he was sidelined for the 2018 season, he and the Brewers struck an agreement on him serving as a coaching apprentice. He had managerial aspirations, didn’t know how much longer his career would last and wanted to make the most of a lost season, so he landed a summer internship of sorts to study Craig Counsell and his staff.

Five years later, Counsell and Vogt were Cleveland’s top choices to succeed Terry Francona. The Guardians hired Vogt, who wowed them in interviews over the last few weeks.