#VogelStrong: Veteran stands tall in return

ATLANTA — There he stood, a 39-year-old former journeyman turned two-time World Series champion, on the cusp of perhaps the greatest achievement of his 19-year professional career.

A little over 10 weeks earlier, Ryan Vogelsong was worried his left eye was gone and his career was over, the victim of an errant 92-mph fastball to the face.

But after undergoing surgery to repair multiple facial fractures in the aftermath of that frightful incident on May 23, he stood on the mound at Turner Field.

Although the Pirates fell to the Braves, 5-2, Vogelsong shined in his first game off the 60-day disabled list, allowing one run on only three hits across six innings with six strikeouts.

“Emotionally for me, it was like getting ready for a postseason game or a World Series game,” Vogelsong said. “When I broke my hand, it was like, ‘Well, I know I’m coming back from this.’ But with the face thing, there were moments where I wasn’t sure.

“To be able to make it back, pitch a big league game and throw the ball like that is icing on the cake.”

After waiting nearly two months to pitch in the Majors again, an hour-and-16-minute rain delay stalled Vogelsong’s return. But he didn’t allow yet another obstacle hinder his performance.

#VogelStrong …

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