The Pirates announced Wednesday that they’ve hired Daniel Vogelbach as a special assistant to their hitting department (relayed by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). While there’d been no word that the 32-year-old had ended his playing career, it seems he’s moving on to his post-playing days.
Vogelbach played parts of nine seasons in the majors. The lefty-hitting first baseman/designated hitter earned an All-Star nod with the Mariners amidst a 30-homer showing in 2019. That was his best full season until 2022. Vogelbach signed a one-year free agent deal with Pittsburgh that came with a modest $1MM base salary. It was a shrewd pickup, as he hit .228/.338/.430 over 75 games. The Bucs moved him early in trade season in a swap for reliever Colin Holderman, who projects as one of their better leverage arms this season.
After landing in Queens, Vogelbach hit .255/.393/.436 for the stretch run. He played well enough for New York to bring him back for the ’23 season, though his numbers dropped to a pedestrian .233/.339/.404 slash. Vogelbach appeared in 31 games early last year for the Blue Jays in what appears to be his final major league action.
If he is officially retiring, he’ll do so with a .219/.340/.405 batting line over 602 big league contests. Vogelbach hit 81 homers and drove in 246 runs while suiting up for five teams. He clearly made a strong impression on the Pittsburgh front office and coaching staff during his few months there as a player. MLBTR sends our best wishes to Vogelbach on the next stage of his career.
What’s he going to do? Teach people how to eat?
No, special assistant….he’s going to finish the plate for all of them.
no, how to waddle around the bases
What did he do, bang your wife?
No, he ate her.
Hard to imagine him in a suit and tie
To my relief, Vogelbach was not named the new team nutritionist.
Darn…there goes Ross’ back up plan.
Hopefully he doesn’t sink the ship!
Jolly Roger is going down
Special assistant to who and/or what? The chef preparing the clubhouse acai bowls?
Mac and cheese, but yeah
Vogelbach has stated in interviews that acai bowls are his go to pregame meal. To me, the fact that he seemingly considers them healthy is hilarious. He deserves every pound on his bulbous gut.
Eh I approve. Fun times in the club house coming.
Infield and base running coach.
Should be a good weight balance to a couple of young lanky pitchers on team flights. He gets the whole left side and squeeze the other 2 into the right side seats. Pilot will know that it will be a safe flight.
Vogelbach will always have 2019. More than any of us can say…
He’ll bring new meaning to “Clear the deck! Cannonball coming!!””
Fat People…the last frontier in terms of being able to make fun of someone and it’s totally acceptable.
Pirates Hire Daniel Vogelbach As Special Assistant
Show the Pirates on ow to properly steal a base!!!
A bunch of classless posts. Players, their family and friends read these.
Agree. My comment was pointing that out, albeit lacking that tone.
label me classless then. Your opinion matters even less than that of the famous and friends of his that read these comments
Why else would anyone even click on this article, except to see the very humorous and classless posts?
Really surprised the Lousy GM shapiro and his lackie didn’t sign Vogelbach again….
Please tell me he was hired as a conditioning coach!
Vogelbach did draw walks at a rate significantly above average. For someone with such a low batting average and who opposing pitchers probably did not fear pitching to, that is quite an accomplishment. Perhaps he is being brought in to help batters, e.g. Cruz, with plate discipline and strike zone recognition.
Please, no more attempts at humor or being witty.
He’s getting the kitchens ready so the Pirates can make a run at Vlad Jr. He knows what it’s going to take to keep a man of that size fed.
All you fat shaming jerks…post your pics. Come you genius shredded manly men anonymously posting…dude was a professional athlete and now is gainfully employed in his chosen field. You’re classless.
Bless your heart.
Damn, I was looking forward to his career in Japan hitting 40 bombs per year while making some fantastic commercials
Quite literally the Pirates biggest off season addition
Vogey has the distinction of having zero stolen bases and zero caught stealing in his career. When he was a Mariner, I got to see him regularly and he seems like a great guy. Now that he’s hung up his cleats, he potentially could really explode weight wise.
This solidifies the Pirates as my 2nd favorite team.
What…Venus de Milo wasn’t interested???
Danny freaking Buuuurgers out here hitting roooopes!!!
He has hit more triples than I ever could. (1)