The Oakland A’s backup catcher carousel was supposed to get closer to ending. On Saturday, Stephen Vogt was supposed to start his rehab assignment with the Las Vegas Aviators, seeing action behind the plate as he worked his way towards a return to the majors.
Mother Nature had other plans. Vogt’s rehab assignment was delayed for a day as the Aviators’ game was postponed due to rain on Saturday, pushing his return to the diamond back to Sunday.
Does Stephen Vogt have much left to offer?
It is not exactly certain that Vogt will reclaim his place as the A’s backup catcher once he is considered ready. He had just one hit in his 15 plate appearances, striking out six times. Vogt had not exactly performed well in 2020 or 2021 either, making it fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank.
Christian Bethancourt, meanwhile, has seemingly surpassed Vogt and Austin Allen for that role. His .236/.292/.303 batting line in his 97 plate appearances may not be stellar, but it is far more than either Vogt or Allen had produced during their stints with the A’s. Add in his defensive flexibility, and Bethancourt has certainly earned his place on the roster.
That versatility could end up giving Vogt an opening. The A’s bench has not exactly lit the universe on fire, and Bethancourt does have experience at both corner outfield spots and first base. He could even theoretically pitch if need be as the Padres had experimented with turning Bethancourt into a two way player years ago.
But it all comes down to how Vogt performs at Triple-A. He will need to show that there is something left in his bat and that he can provide more than veteran leadership. Otherwise, it is difficult to see why the A’s would give a roster spot to someone who will not be part of the future.
Stephen Vogt’s rehab assignment has been delayed a day due to weather. The Oakland A’s have an extra day to see if Vogt has anything left.