Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt Praises Team in Emotional Video: 'I Love These Guys'

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt allowed himself to get caught up in the emotion of his team's surprise success this season after Monday's 4-3 comeback win over the Minnesota Twins.

Vogt got teary-eyed while explaining how much he appreciates this year's team:

The Guardians trailed most of the game until rookie Kyle Manzardo hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Twins reliever Griffin Jax in the bottom of the eighth.

The victory dropped the Guardians' magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one. They have opened up a five-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central with a magic number of seven to clinch the division title.

Vogt was hired as manager to replace Terry Francona, who stepped down after 11 seasons with the team due to health issues.

The Guardians finished 2023 with a 76-86 record. Their 124 homers were 27 fewer than any other team in MLB hit. Austin Hedges and Ben Lively were the only players who signed a big-league contract in free agency.

Former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber only made two starts before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen, who were in the opening-day rotation, have spent most of the last two months in the minors due to their struggles.

Despite all of the issues in the rotation and a lineup that, with the exception of José Ramírez, entered the year being fairly anonymous among MLB fans, the Guardians are challenging for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

Cleveland's 87 wins are tied with the New York Yankees for most in the American League entering Wednesday.

The Guardians' five All-Stars were tied with the Baltimore Orioles for most in the AL. Their bullpen ranks first in MLB with a 2.65 ERA.

All of the pieces have added up to form a team that will likely have a chance to end Cleveland's 76-year World Series drought this postseason.