How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty talks about the epic journey of pitcher Ryan Vogelsong.
Ryan Vogelsong was born on July 22, 1977, in Charlotte, North Carolina. His family moved to Pennsylvania as Vogelsong was growing up, and he graduated from Octorara High School in Atglen, Pennsylvania. He went on to play college baseball from 1996-1998 at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where he was drafted in his third year by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 1998 draft. Vogelsong's professional carer began in the Class A Short-Season Northwest League with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of Keizer, Oregon. He excelled in ten starts here, pitching to a 1.77 earned run average, with sixty-six strikeouts in fifty-six innings. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced California League to make four starts near the end of the season, but he struggled mightily in those appearances. He stayed with San Jose for the 1999 season, and improved his statistics to a 2.45 earned run average with eighty-six strikeouts in sixty-nine and two-thirds innings pitched. This earned him a promotion to the Class AA Texas League to play with the Shreveport Captains of Shreveport, Louisiana. Again, in the short stint with a new team, Vogelsong struggled, but he was able to right the ship in 2000 by staying with the Captains. In the next season, he pitched to 4.23 earned run average, with 147 strikeouts in 155 and 1/3 innings, before getting his first major league call up, making his debut on September 7th. He appeared with San Francisco in a relief role, pitching in four games for six innings without allowing a run. Vogelsong was assigned to the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies in 2001, where he pitched a portion of the season with a 2.79 earned run average, as well as fifty-three strikeouts in fifty-eight innings. Vogelsong returned to San Francisco in late May, and pitched there until he was traded on July 30th with Armando Rios to the Pittsburgh Pirates, in exchange for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal. He made two horrendous appearance with the Pirates in September, working out of the bullpen after posting a 3.98 earned run average with thirty-three strikeouts in thirty-one and two-thirds innings with the Class AAA Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League. He suffered an arm injury in his second major league appearance with Pittsburgh, and underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, which cause him to sit out most of the 2002 season. He made rehabilitation appearances in 2002 with the Class A Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats of Lynchburg, Viriginia in the Carolina League, before moving along to the Class AA Altoona Curve in Altoona Pennsylvania, playing in the eastern League. For the year, he had statistics of a 6.22 earned run average, with fifty-five strikeouts in fifty-nine and one-third innings. He returned to play with the Nashville Sounds in 2003 for most of the season, posting a 4.29 earned run average, 146 strikeouts, and 149 innings of work. He also made six major league appearances for Pittsburgh, which were either really good or really bad. He worked in a number of roles with the Pirates, and stuck with them for the entire 2004 season, pitching mostly as a starter. This backfired, and he had a 6-13 record with seven no-decisions and five relief appearances in which he produced a 6.50 earned run average, ninety-two strikeouts, and 133 innings pitched. The Pirates shifted Vogelsong to the bullpen for 2005, where he pitched in forty-four games. He worked mostly in a long relief role, and he accumulated a 4.43 earned run average as well as fifty-two strikeouts in eighty-one and one-third innings. Vogelsong continued to work from the bullpen in 2006, appearing in twenty games. He posted a 6.39 earned run average and twenty-seven strikeouts over thirty-eight innings, and was logically sent down after June 22nd to pitch with the new Class AAA Pirates affiliate in the International League, the Indianapolis Indians. While experiencing modest success as a starter with the Indians by posting a 2.66 earned run average while striking out forty-three over sixty-seven and two-thirds innings, Vogelsong elected for free agency at the end of the season. No one offered a contract, so Vogelsong began his overseas journey. He found himself pitching with the Hanshin Tigers in Nishinomiya, Japan of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Central League in 2007. He made twenty starts, accumulating a 4.13 earned run average in 106 and 2/3 innings, while striking out ninety-one. He hit his first home run at any level on April 12, 2007. He pitched with Hanshin again in 2008, making twelve starts with a 3.99 earned run average, fifty strikeouts, and sixty-five and one-third innings. The 2009 season saw another change for Vogelsong, as he pitched with the Orix Buffaloes of Osaka, Japan in the Japan Pacific League. Here, he was used as a reliever in thirty games, pitching to a 4.54 earned run average and fifty-six strikeouts in forty-one and two-thirds innings. On January 7, 2010, Vogelsong was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was assigned to their Class AAA affiliate in Allentown, Pennsylvania, pitching for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the International League. He made twenty-five appearance (seven starts), pitching to a 4.91 earned run average with seventy-three strikeouts in fifty-eight and two-thirds innings, before being released by the Phillies on July 15th. On July 27th, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed Vogelsong and assigned him to the Class AAA Salt Lake City Bees of Salt Lake City, Utah in the Pacific Coast League. He made seven starts and one relief appearance here, with a line of a 4.66 earned run average, with thirty-seven strikeouts in thirty-six and two-thirds innings pitched. Vogelsong was granted free agency at the end of the season, and he was discovered by the organization that drafted him, the San Francisco Giants. He spent the winter pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League, which he later said had a huge effect on his future performance. The Giants placed him with Fresno again, but an early season injury to Barry Zito gave Vogelsong a chance to return to the major leagues for the first time in five years. He stepped into Zito's fifth slot in the rotation, and excelled in the role for the Giants. He was selected by his own manager, Bruce Bochy, for the 2011 All-Star Game, although he did not make an appearance in the game itself. He experienced a second half regression, but maintained his spot in the rotation, and ended the year as arguably the best starter on a San Francisco staff that presumably had three other aces in Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and Madison Bumgarner. He ended the year with a 2.71 earned run average, as well as 139 strikeouts in 179 and 2/3 innings, although his 13-7 record was deceiving. Five of his losses came during a power outage for the Giants offense. He was named the 2011 Willie Mac Award winner for his demonstration of spirit and leadership that the award's namesake, Willie McCovey, frequently showed for the Giants, as well as being named Giants breakout player of the year. Vogelsong began 2012 on the disabled list, and returned after two more rehabilitation starts in Fresno to pitch with the Giants. While his numbers were not as good as the year before, he held a 14-9 record with eight no-decisions, while posting a 3.37 earned run average and 158 strikeouts in 189 and 2/3 innings. He was snubbed for the All-Star Game despite having the lowest earned run average in the National League midway through the season, but he did not let it deter him from a team-first philosophy. Vogelsong was a vital part of the Giants postseason rotation as well, with a 3-0 record as well as one no-decision. He saved the San Francisco on a handful of occasions, beginning a three-game win streak against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Division Series to avoid a first round elimination. While he did not get the win in that game, the team won in the tenth inning. Vogelsong also had two wins against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, evening the seven-game set in both Game 2 for a 1-1 series tie and then by forcing a decisive Game 7 after defeating the Cardinals again at home in Game 6. His postseason finale was five and two-thirds shutout innings in Game 3 against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, which placed the Tigers in a stranglehold they failed to escape the next day when Matt Cain clinched a San Francisco World Series Championship. His postseason numbers were a 1.09 earned run average and twenty-one strikeouts in twenty-four and two-thirds innings pitched. Vogelsong's long and winding journey tells us a lot about our own lives as well, showing that determination, perseverance, and second chances can put us on top of the world. Originally though of as a castoff, Vogelsong did whatever was necessary to return to Major League Baseball, and was rewarded by the Giants. He in turn helped them to a championship, so far the pinnacle for a thirty-five year old who hopes to continue his newfound success in the years ahead.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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