SAN FRANCISCO - Ryan Vogelsong has been coy in recent months when asked about retirement plans. It turns out he had something bigger planned.
Vogelsong will officially retire as a Giant this Sunday, the organization announced. The 40-year-old right-hander will take the mound before the afternoon game against the Diamondbacks to end and celebrate a career that began with the Giants on Sept. 2, 2000.
Vogelsong played 12 years in the big leagues, including seven with the Giants. He returned to the organization in 2011 and became a key contributor and fan favorite on two title teams, making an All-Star team and winning three postseason games.
"We are so excited to honor Ryan and touched that as one of our home grown players his career will officially end where it all began for him," general manager Bobby Evans said in a statement. "Ryan's journey in this game has been marked by highs and lows, successes and challenges, but through it all he has always been a person of great integrity, strong character and a fierce competitor. He is a World Series Champion and a forever Giant."
Vogelsong played for the Pirates last season and tried to catch on with the Twins this spring. He has spent most of the year at home in the Atlanta area, and he watched the Giants when they visited the new Braves stadium earlier this season. It has long been assumed that Vogelsong would take on some role with the organization upon his retirement. This could represent the start of that second journey.
