Ryan Vogelsong, Retired
Date of Birth: 7/22/1977
Birthplace: Charlotte, North Carolina
College: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Ryan Vogelsong, pitcher, was first drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1998. From 1998 through 2002, he pitched in the Giants' minor league system, joining the team for just four games in 2000. After 13 games with the Giants in 2001, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Vogelsong had Tommy John surgery after pitching in two games with the Pirates in 2001. He missed the entire 2002 season and he pitched in just six games with the Pirates in 2003.
In 2004, his first full season in the major leagues, Vogelsong pitched 133.0 innings in 31 games and he had a 6-13 record with a dismal 6.50 ERA. For the next two seasons, he pitched out of the Pirates' bullpen.
From 2007 through 2009, Vogelsong played baseball in Japan. Prior to the start of the 2010 season, he returned to the US and signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. That arrangement, however, did not work well and the Phillies released him on July 15, 2010. Thirteen days later, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. After the season ended, the Angels released him.
Vogelsong signed another minor league contract in 2011, this time returning to the Giants. When Barry Zito went on the DL with injuries, Vogelsong was called up to replace him. In 2011, his first season in the Giants' starting rotation, he pitched 179.2 innings in 30 games and he finished with a 13-7 record and a career low 2.71 ERA.
Vogelsong had a strong season in 2012 when he had a 3.37 ERA and career highs in innings pitched (189.2), wins (14 to 9 losses), and strikeouts (158 to 62 walks). In 2013, he had injuries that limited his playing time to 19 games. He finished the 2013 season with a 4-6 record and a 5.73 ERA.
In December, 2013, Vogelsong signed a one-year contract with the Giants. He finished the 2014 season with an 8-13 record, 151 strikeouts to 58 walks, and a 4.00 ERA in 184.2 innings in 32 games. In the postseason, he pitched 12.1 innings in 4 games and he gave up 16 hits, 9 runs, and 1 home run to finish with a 6.57 ERA.
Vogelsong and the Giants agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract on January 23, 2015. He pitched from the starting rotation and the bullpen in 2015. He finished the season with a 9-11 record, 108 strikeouts to 58 walks, and a 4.67 ERA in 135.0 innings in 33 games.
On December 18, 2015, Vogelsong agreed to return to the Pirates on a one year contract. He finished the 2016 season with a 4.81 ERA, 3 wins to 7 losses, and 61 strikeouts to 40 walks in 82.1 innings in 14 games as a starter and 10 games as a reliever.
Vogelsong became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins on January 11, 2017. He didn't play professional baseball in 2017.
Vogelsong retired from major league baseball on September 17, 2017.
Career pitching statistics for Vogelsong through 2016 include:
- 289 games played
- 1,190.0 innings pitched
- 61-75 win-loss record
- 900 strikeouts to 471 walks
- 4.48 ERA
Personal Life
Vogelsong and his wife Nicole have one son.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ryan Vogelsong
ESPN - Ryan Vogelsong