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A's Players Take Opposite Paths To All-Star Team

Stephen Vogt and Sonny Gray were both named to the American League All-Star Team on Monday, but their paths to Cincinnati could not have been any more different.

The 25-year-old Gray and 30-year-old Vogt may be one of the top battery-mates in baseball today, but it wasn't something the Oakland Athletics had in the plans even just two seasons ago.

From the moment Gray was drafted in the first round out of college baseball power house Vanderbilt, scouts and fans alike knew the right handed pitcher would one day become an all-star and one of the top pitchers in the league.

The same can't be said for Vogt.

Vogt played college ball for the not-so-power-house Azusa Pacific University before he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th round of the 2007 draft.

After spending five years in the minor leagues, Vogt was called up the majors in 2012 but played in just 18 games and didn't register a single hit.

Who knows what the Athletics saw in Vogt, but they traded for the catcher at the beginning of the 2013 season and it couldn't have worked any better for the Green and Gold.

As for Gray, he didn't spend much time in the minor leagues.

After being drafted in 2011, Gray spent just a few years in the minors before making his debut with the Athletics in 2013.

Gray played a major role in the team's playoff run that year and even made two outstanding starts in the first round of the playoffs against the Detroit Tigers.

From the get-go, you could see the ace within Gray.

That's the funny thing about baseball, it doesn't matter where you're drafted, or how long it takes you to get two the majors, if you help the team win, you will keep your spot in the big leagues.

Vogt epitomizes every bit of that.

He didn't put up outstanding numbers in his 47 games played in 2013, but he played solid defense and had timely hits.

He was put on the playoff roster in 2013 and had a walk-off hit in game two of the series against the Tigers, a game which Gray, a rookie at the time, started.

From that point on, you knew Gray would be at the top of the A's rotation for years to come, but Vogt's future with the club was still unsure.

Vogt didn't make the big league club to start the season in 2014.

After being called up half way through the season, Vogt's play shot up to a level not many saw coming. His play forced Manager Bob Melvin to keep Vogt in the lineup.

He was all of the diamond in 2014 making starts behind the plate, at first base, and at both corner outfield spots.

His play had fans and teammates believing in him.

Gray's first full season with the club was in 2014 and all he did was win 14 games with an ERA of 3.08.

Although Gray and Vogt were at different points in their respective careers, they both started to blossom into the A's top players right around the same time and helped Oakland make the playoffs for the third straight year.

This year is Vogt's first full season in the big leagues, and the numbers he is putting up have been nothing short of outstanding.

The battery mates have had tremendous success for the entire season and both are putting up numbers worthy of some awards at season's end.

Gray currently sits at a record of 9-3 and has the best ERA in the American League at 2.09.

Vogt is leading all American League catchers in batting average (.290), RBI (53) and is tied for the lead in home runs (13).

Two players, two opposite journeys, both 2015 All-Stars.

 

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