AZUSA, Calif. -- Stephen Vogt's story begins in the spring of 2003 when first-year head coach Paul Svagdis recruited the three-year letterwinner in baseball and basketball from Central Valley Christian in Visalia, Calif. At the time, it was late in Vogt's senior year of high school when Svagdis first saw him on tape.

"I watched three swings. And I got on my (landline) button phone (in the office) and called him," Svagdis said, "I asked him if he had signed with anyone yet, and at that point he hadn't. And I said, okay, I am going to make you a scholarship (offer) right now." 

Not only was it an immediate offer but in fact, this was the first ever scholarship Svagdis had ever offered in his coaching career. Out of that scholarship offer just happened to be one of the best baseball players to ever wear the brick and black.

"The things you can't tell on video, is the quality of the character, the quality of the individual," Svagdis said, "And, over the first semester or two, I knew pretty quickly he was going to be pretty special."

Vogt started behind the plate in his freshman campaign and quickly made a name for himself. He ended the season on a 30-game hitting streak which was four games shy of the school record. Vogt then went on to break nine school records during his Cougar career which included having the highest ever batting average (.451), most hits (294), doubles (74), RBIs (199), and walks (158). Vogt also set single-season records in his senior season in hits (108) and doubles (26). In all four seasons Vogt hit above .410 with 50+ hits, five plus home runs and had an on-base percentage of at least .520 and was named an NAIA All-American three times in his career (2005, 2006, 2007). Statistically, Vogt had one of the best four-year careers of any Azusa Pacific athlete.

After his four seasons with Azusa Pacific, Vogt was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 12th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Vogt bounced around the minor leagues for five years before making it to the MLB with the Rays in 2012. His first big league hit was a home run for the Oakland A's in 2013. In Game 2 of the 2013 American League Division Series vs. the Detroit Tigers, he had a walk-off, game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning. Vogt became an All-Star with the Oakland Athletics in 2015 and 2016 and became a fan favorite in Oakland for his humorous portrayals of basketball referees as well as famous actor, Chris Farley. Most recently, he spent the 2019 season with the San Francisco Giants. 

The story doesn't start and end with Vogt's ability on the baseball diamond, however, it only begins there. The person and character that is Stephen Vogt is really where the two-time All-Star has made the most impact. 

"I mean his impact is immeasurable," coach Svagdis said, "He is the consummate alum, from his success at the major league level and his (two) all-star appearances, the credibility and juice that he's brought to this baseball program is immeasurable. I am indebted to his commitment to the way I wanted to run things and his commitment to APU."

Although his career has taken him away from Southern California, Vogt has not forgotten about where it all started. He continues to give back to the Azusa Pacific baseball program in many ways. The Cougars' locker room is home to Vogt's game-worn All-Star game jersey as it is placed strategically so that every Cougar player can see it. Vogt also takes time each year to come back to his alma mater to talk with his former coach as well as spend time with current Cougar baseball players each year. 

Vogt has also been an ambassador for Azusa Pacific on the national stage, giving the university praise every chance he gets. 

"It's the quality of guy that he is that he understands the value of that," Svagdis said, "When you see him on Intentional Talk and the MLB Network almost 100 percent of the time he's wearing APU gear or he is trying to get APU baseball and APU a little bit of love in that moment. That is very purposeful, and he understands the platform and how incredibly valuable that is to the program's development over time."

Vogt's continued support and impact has gone beyond his four years of collegiate athletics at Azusa Pacific. As Vogt is inducted into the 2019 Azusa Pacific Hall of Fame class, there's no telling when his significance and impact will cease.

Vogt's Cougar career will be enshrined forever at Azusa Pacific when he joins nine other former Cougar athletes for induction into the Azusa Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. in the Felix Event Center.  The ceremony is open to the public at $25/person. Click here to purchase tickets.