Stephen Vogt Rejoins A's 3 Days After Scary Groin Injury
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Catcher Stephen Vogt has taken too many foul tips to count, but this one was the worst ever.
"I've taken so many shots to the cup. This one was direct, 93 (mph)," Vogt said. "I've never been hit that direct with that much velocity."
Vogt rejoined the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday following two days at home resting from a frightening foul tip to the groin that forced him to leave Sunday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners.
Vogt underwent two ultrasounds on the groin area that showed no surgery was necessary, though he was dealing with swelling and it's unclear what his status is for the remainder of the season.
Vogt was examined in the training room Wednesday ahead of the series finale against the Houston Astros. He will travel on the upcoming road trip, hoping to resume some baseball activities and hitting.
"It's just really good to see him back in here," backup catcher Josh Phegley said. "None of us expect him to be back in there any time soon. That was a scary situation. He's being a trooper about it. You can tell he wants to be in here, he wants to be back but he's got to play it safe for his health. It's just nice to see him here, he's a staple in this clubhouse."
Phegley said his teammates want Vogt to take his time to fully heal.
"Right now the thought of getting back there makes me nauseous," Vogt said, describing the injury as a "freak, fluke thing."
For Phegley, he has seen plenty of catchers - himself included - take hard foul tips to the groin area.
"But that was by far the worst one I've ever seen. You could tell the amount of pain he was in," Phegley said. "We all kind of feared the worst but it seems like everything has worked out and he's going to make a full recovery."
Vogt is batting .271 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs in 125 games this season.
The 30-year-old Vogt batted .279 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in a career-best 84 games last year, when he didn't catch again after July 7 because of a troublesome right foot that needed surgery after the season.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.