San Francisco Giants: Will Ryan Vogelsong Be an All-Star?

On April 28, 2011, a 33 year-old righty who hadn't started a major league game in seven years took the mound at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to face his former club, the Pirates, in his debut with the club that first drafted him nine years earlier, the San Francisco Giants.

Ryan Vogelsong, the journeyman who, in order to keep his professional baseball career alive, found himself playing for the Hanshin Tigers of Japan from 2007 to 2008, had come full circle.

Drafted by San Francisco in the 5th round of the amateur draft in 1998, Vogelsong made his big league debut on September 2, 2000.  He would only appear in four games that year, and was traded to the Pirates in mid-2001 in the deal that brought Jason Schmidt to San Francisco.

Vogelsong struggled with Pittsburgh for five seasons, going 10-19 with a 6.00 ERA before being let go after the 2006 season.

After spending two years in the Nippon League in Japan, the Philadelphia Phillies took a chance on Vogelsong and signed him in 2010.  Vogelsong's time in Philadelphia was short, however, as he was released on July 15 the same year.

Then the circle of Vogelsong's career was completed, as he signed a minor league contract with the Giants with an invitation to spring training in 2011.

Vogelsong was tasked with replacing the injured Barry Zito in the fifth starting rotation spot, and what a pleasant surprise he's been for San Francisco.

In eight starts, Vogelsong is 4-1 with a 1.68 ERA. Opposing hitters are hitting just .214 against him, and he has 42 strikeouts compared with just 14 walks in 53.2 innings pitched.

Vogelsong has quickly become one of the most reliable starters on San Francisco's elite pitching staff, which begs the questions: will he be named a National League All-Star?

The answer to that question will be found over Vogelsong's next couple of starts. If he continues to dazzle, he may very well find himself in Arizona for the midsummer classic, especially since his skipper, Bruce Bochy, is going to be the manager for the National League.

Vogelsong is already making a case for the league's Comeback Player of the Year, and being voted an All-Star certainly won't hurt his chances.