Major League Baseball

Vogelsong's emergence plays big factor for Giants

Published Sep. 10, 2011 4:24 a.m. ET

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Playing winter ball last year in Venezuela, Ryan Vogelsong pulled aside teammate Guillermo Rodriguez and asked him to place an important call to the Giants.

Rodriguez had an international cell phone plan, and another key connection: the number for Bobby Evans, the Giants vice president of baseball operations.

''I said, 'Do me a favor and call the Giants and let them know I got an offer from the Dodgers, and I don't want to wear Dodger Blue,''' Vogelsong recalled Friday. ''About three hours later we had a deal in place. I couldn't see myself being a Dodger. And I'm sure glad it happened the way it happened.''

Indeed, Vogelsong has revived his career this season in San Francisco. The journeyman right-hander became an unlikely All-Star and among the most reliable pitchers for the reigning World Series champions - at age 34, no less.

A non-roster invitee to spring training on a minor league deal, Vogelsong's feel-good story and emergence earned him the Giants' ''Willie Mac'' Award. The honor is named for Hall of Famer Willie McCovey and is voted on by the players, coaches and training staff to recognize the team's most inspirational player both on the field and in the clubhouse.

Vogelsong, 10-6 but mired in a four-start skid, toiled through three seasons in the Japanese League before Triple-A stints last year for the Phillies and Angels. In the Bay Area with the team that originally drafted him in the fifth round in 1998, Vogelsong became a front-line starter at last. His wife, Nicole, and 2-year-old son, Ryder, have been along for the journey and are absolutely thrilled.

Even Vogelsong didn't see all this success coming in his comeback with his first club. Vogelsong still kept in touch with his old teammates and followed San Francisco's results.

''This is just something else,'' he said of Friday's honor. ''To start the season, I didn't expect any of this to happen. Great things are happening. This is just something else I can add to the list.

''From day one, I've been a Giant at heart. I said all along one of the reasons I came back here was because I thought this was going to be it for me and I wanted to finish where I started. I'm glad things have changed course here and this isn't going to be the end.''

Back home in Venezuela last winter, third baseman Pablo Sandoval watched Vogelsong pitch a couple of times before he joined the Giants in December. By spring training, Sandoval had a strong hunch the pitcher would make the team.

Vogelsong didn't. He has made good on his chance since joining the Giants in mid-April, starting 3-0 and winning six straight decisions during one stretch spanning both sides of the All-Star break.

''He deserves it. He did a great job to help the team and he came from nowhere,'' Sandoval said. ''I knew he had talent when he signed with us. In spring training he got invited to big league camp and I knew he was going to make the team. This is a guy who's been through a lot in his life. How he came back here, I appreciate the work he's done because not everyone can do that.''

Not bad for a former fill-in promoted from Triple-A Fresno.

Vogelsong wasn't even supposed to be in the rotation before left-hander Barry Zito went on the disabled list with a foot injury.

He knows his positive story might reach people beyond baseball, beyond sports. Texas slugger Josh Hamilton's comeback from drugs and alcohol resonated with Vogelsong along the way.

''The thing that means a lot to me is I inspired people,'' he said. ''People can understand working hard and persevering through tough times.''

Vogelsong's teammates have enjoyed the ride, too.

''Pretty easy (choice),'' outfielder Cody Ross said. ''To see what he's been through, the way he performed and the way he carried himself, it's been really fun to be around and to watch.''

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