Athletics' Stephen Vogt hits home run in final game before retirement

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Growing up in Visalia, Calif., Stephen Vogt spent infinite summer season nights in the Central Valley warmth imitating the swing of Will Clark, his preferred participant on the Giants. Set up in his the front yard, he’d faux to hit domestic runs, visualizing himself doing so on a massive league field.

Playing his closing Major League recreation on Wednesday in the A’s 3-2 victory over the Angels, Vogt acquired one final danger to stay out his childhood dream.

Leading off the backside of the seventh inning understanding his 0.33 plate look of the recreation would additionally be the ultimate of his career, Vogt -- who introduced on Sept. 22 that he would be retiring at season's quit -- took a sluggish stroll to the plate and soaked in the ovation from the Coliseum crowd. Digging into the box, he shared some phrases with Angels rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe earlier than locking in to face right-hander Zack Weiss.

On the first pitch he saw, Vogt pounced on a 94.2 mph fastball, drilling it into the Budweiser area in proper area for a domestic run.

"I simply acquired each and every emotion out," Vogt stated of his emotions whilst rounding the bases for the duration of the magical moment. "I used to be simply like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ So completely happy and so elated. The little child in you that used to play out in the the front yard and faux to be Will Clark, I let that that come out. I loved each and every 2d of it. It was once a thrilling, exciting moment."

Sharing a hug at domestic plate with on-deck batter Ernie Clement, Vogt obtained high-fives all round from every one of his teammates and coaches who jumped out of the A’s dugout to have a good time the homer. A couple of minutes later, Vogt used to be pushed lower back onto the area with the aid of Tony Kemp, waving his hands to all instructions of the Coliseum and locking eyes with his wife, Alyssa, and different contributors of his household as he obtained a curtain call.

"My youngsters and my spouse are the most vital human beings in my life," Vogt said. "I had tears in my eyes. It was once the whole thing I should dream of. To have my household with me on my ultimate day and be given the probability to stroll away on my terms, it’s now not some thing I take lightly. I comprehend very few of us get to do it, and I’m so thankful."

Concluding his 10-year profession with a large fly, Vogt grew to become simply the tenth participant in the enlargement generation (since 1961) to have a domestic run for his first and closing profession hit, with the closing coming at least 10 years after the first. The similarity between the two homers is additionally pretty uncanny.

When Vogt notched his first domestic run -- additionally a solo shot off then-Cardinals reliever Joe Kelly on June 28, 2013, to snap an 0-for-32 streak that started out his Major League profession -- that ball additionally sailed into the equal area of right-field seats at the Coliseum. As quickly as Vogt made contact on Wednesday, he replayed the reminiscence of his first domestic run in his head.

"They’re each very similar," Vogt said. "Both on fastballs out over the plate. I’m certain I’ll watch the replay about 1,000 instances right here in the subsequent few days. The truth that it was once the equal genuine spot, proper when I hit it, I knew. That’s all I can truly assume about. I’m so blessed. It used to be a very distinct moment. To see my teammates’ reactions, that’s the whole lot to me."

The tributes to Vogt started earlier than the sport with a pregame ceremony in which the A’s honored his profession with a video package deal of highlights from his six seasons with Oakland. Throughout the afternoon, the A’s performed video messages from various of Vogt’s former teammates and coaches, with Brewers big name Christian Yelich and Padres supervisor Bob Melvin amongst these congratulating him on his career.

"Stephen’s day, write the book," stated A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay. "A homer on the first pitch and exits his profession like you prefer to as a player. You couldn’t draw it up any better. So proud of him. Proud to be phase of his career. Proud to have gotten to manipulate a participant that I certainly have the utmost recognize for."

The most emotional second for Vogt, however, got here all through his first two plate appearances. As he walked to the plate for each, all three of his adolescents amazed him from the PA sales space through saying his title over the Coliseum speakers.

"What a stunning day that the Oakland A’s equipped for my household and myself," Vogt said. “What a game. Catching seven shutout innings and hitting a homer in your last at-bat, can’t even make it up."

When Vogt introduced final month that he’d be retiring at season’s end, he made it clear that he needs to continue to be concerned with baseball in some capacity. Whether it be as a supervisor or broadcaster, he’s now not pretty certain yet. In the meantime, he’ll spend time with his household returned domestic in Olympia, Wash.

Despite a disappointing season in the win-loss column witht he A's, who completed the yr 60-102, Vogt stated he loved the chance to serve as a chief internal a younger A’s clubhouse that noticed a franchise file sixty four gamers come via the building, along with 34 rookies. Though he’ll step away from the game, he’ll preserve an eye on this crew from afar, excited about the improvement of numerous pinnacle potentialities such as Ken Waldichuk, who fired seven shutout innings in Wednesday’s season finale.

"It used to be fun," Vogt stated of his remaining Major League season. "Ken’s obtained such a notable arm. He’s getting to know how to pitch. Along with JP Sears, Nick Allen, James Kaprielian, the listing goes on of the younger intelligence in this building. The guys in that room are prepared for subsequent year. The sky’s the restrict for a lot of younger guys in that room. I’m excited to maintain an eye on them from anyplace I would possibly be."