CLEVELAND — It's unlikely anyone would've predicted seeing Stephen Vogt in this position just 15 short months ago.
At that time, he was putting the finishing touches on a 10-year major-league career, a journey that took him from the status of also-ran to cult hero to All-Star and everything in between.
But now, he finds himself with the opportunity of a lifetime, and he understands the stakes.
"I don't take it for granted one bit," he says. "I've been preparing for this role for a very long time."
"This role," of course, refers to him being named the Guardians' 39th full-time manager this past November. The (ironically) 39-year-old comes to Cleveland in a period of transition, not only with the retirement of future Hall of Fame skipper Terry Francona but also with a team coming off its worst season in more than a decade.
Yet in an interview with 3News' Dave Chudowsky this week, Vogt didn't seem to dread the prospect of taking over a club at a crossroads. In fact, he seemed to relish it, focusing instead on the positives as well as the job his predecessor did to make things just a little easier.
"A lot of times, first-year managers, they're coming in and they're having to do 180[-degree] changes, they're having to make these huge adjustments," Vogt told Dave. "But Tito, obviously, left this place in such good hands. And so I don't feel any pressure; I'm excited, and that's the way I'm choosing to look at it."
A look back at Vogt's introductory press conference:
Once an unheralded prospect as a player, Vogt fought his way through the minor leagues to become a fan favorite with the Oakland Athletics, becoming a two-time All-Star catcher in the process. That position has become a breeding ground for big-league managers over the years, and Vogt can see from experience.
"As a catcher, you're making 175 in-game decisions every single night — you're the one calling the pitches, you're the one doing the homework, and any one of those pitches can lead to a win or a loss," he explained. "So having that experience and being able to think on the fly and make quick decisions like that, I think, is going to be very, very beneficial for me as a manager."
Francona's Indians/Guardians squads enjoyed a sustained run of success Cleveland had not seen since the 1990s, with six postseason appearances and the peak of an American League pennant in 2016. Their skipper won three AL Manager of the Year Awards in the process, including as recently as 2022 when the Guards surprised all prognosticators and won their division.
Unfortunately, injuries and the team's flaws caught up with them in 2023, culminating in a mediocre 76-86 record that left them well shy of the playoffs. While the group could still potentially compete in what remains a weak AL Central, ownership and the front office have been hesitant to make offseason moves, and the lineup in particular remains a major question mark after hitting a league-worst 124 home runs last season.
Despite the challenges, Vogt still sees the Guardians as a contender right now, thanks to a solid pitching staff and a lot of young talent still waiting in the wings. However, he also knows the offense has to come from somewhere, which is why he and hitting coach Chris Valaika are already talking with their players about "impacting the baseball more."
"If we can hit the baseball a little bit harder, we're going to see some more doubles, we're going to see, hopefully, a few more home runs," Vogt said. "We have that potential, and it's just teaching guys and helping them learn quickly when to take those chances."
Vogt is also thrilled to be in a a city with a rabid fan base starved for a championship, a mountain the Guardians haven't climbed in 76 years. Regarding that drought and what it would mean to finally bring it to an end, he admits, "I want to win a World Series just as bad as they do," and that is always his goal.
"I've always said, 'If you show up to spring training not wanting to win a World Series or not expecting to win a World Series, don't come. We play this game to win,'" he declared. "For me, if your sights aren't set on that from the very beginning, then you might as well not show up for the season."