TAMPA, Fla. -- Ryan Vogelsong has been beloved everywhere he's been in baseball. On a personal level, he's been good to me beginning with my rookie year covering the Pirates in 2005, but infinitely more important, he's made lifelong friends from here to Japan and back, he's still celebrated in San Francisco, and he's clung to connections in those places and more.
He's one of those quality humans who never has to say goodbye because you always know, one way or another, he'll find you again.
Sports are seldom as important as we make them out to be, or, for most of us, as important as they'll feel all over again by the end of this very day. So spare a moment, please, for a thought or prayer for this truly special individual who overcame a rough ride early in his career and ventured overseas before returning as an All-Star and champion in San Francisco, this father of a son Ryder, and this husband to the lovely Nicole, who tweeted out this encouraging message very late Monday night:
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the outpouring of love & prayers for Ryan. He is stable & will be ok. Pirates will update more tomorrow.
— Nicole Vogelsong (@nicolevogelsong) May 24, 2016
WWE performer Shawn Michaels walks up the aisle at Consol during Game 5 Sunday. -- DKPS