During Sean Murphy’s first big league camp with the Athletics in 2017, Stephen Vogt was the starting catcher.
It took Murphy, who was one of the A’s top prospects at the time, a couple more years to make it to the big leagues in 2019. By then, Vogt was playing across the Bay for the Giants – but he had already shown the A’s youngster the ropes.
Fast forward five years, and Murphy is the A’s starting catcher while Vogt returned this season as his backup after journeying around to four different teams in the past five years. In a one-on-one interview with NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil, Murphy said he appreciated Vogt for welcoming him.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“He took me under his wing back then,” Murphy said. “So to have him back is awesome.”
Murphy, who is hitting .218 this season with four home runs and 14 RBI, has a locker next to Vogt’s in the clubhouse. It’s a perfect full-circle moment for the 27-year-old catcher, who is likely going to feature heavily in the A’s lineup this season given the roster turnover.
Related: Vogt 'thrilled' to return to A's, embraces new faces
Vogt has played in just six games this season before going on the injured list with a sprained right knee, but the 10-year veteran is still finding a way to help Murphy with preparing for games.
“He’s a wealth of knowledge,” Murphy said. “You can go anywhere with him. You can ask him anything. He’s important in meetings and even though he’s hurt right now, he makes his reports. So when we talk about these hitters, he always has something to add because he’s been around so long and been seeing these guys.”
Vogt is not the player he once was when he made two All-Star teams with the A’s between 2013 and 2017. But at age 37, his role has shifted to one of a veteran who can show the ropes to the next generation – which Murphy appreciates.