Developing in his new role
Boston Red Sox pick up option on Berwick coach Christian Vogler’s contract
Christian Vogler has made an impression on the Boston Red Sox.
The Major League Baseball team recently picked up the option year of his contract after the Berwick native’s first season as a minor league development coach in the Dominican Republic. The 27-year-old son of Phil Vogler and Stephanie Berthier, Vogler worked with the Red Sox’s Latin American prospects, who ranged in age from 16 to 22.
“I just want to keep continuing to grow and continue to help as many people as I can,” said Vogler, a lifelong Red Sox fan. “If I can help somebody get one per cent better every day, then I’m doing my job.”
Vogler, a pitcher growing up in Nova Scotia, worked in all aspects of the game last season in the Dominican Republic. On the hitting side, his role was more to do with data collection than instruction and he acted as a liaison between hitting coaches, the analytics department and sports science department.
Vogler said he considers himself a forward-thinking coach who used the new technology available to them with his experience as a player.
The Red Sox had about 75 players at its Dominican Academy in 2021. They were split between two teams and played in the Dominican Summer League.
“It was a whirlwind of a year,” Vogler said. “I am just excited to get going with Year 2 and see where that ends up.”
Vogler’s success doesn’t surprise Lyle Boylen.
The New Minas resident coached Vogler from 13-21 and then asked him to be the pitching coach for the Kentville Wildcats junior program. He remembers Vogler being a hard-throwing righty, but that only tells part of the story.
“What really stands out with Christian is I always considered him a great teammate,” said Boylen, noting Vogler’s positive and supportive approach.
Boylen was happy to hear his favourite team, the Red Sox, picked up the second year of Vogler’s contract.
“Obviously, he’s made an impression with them,” Boylen said, noting how hard these types of jobs are to come by. “There’s so much competition from all over the word. … He’s beaten the odds for sure.”
After two years playing with the Nova Scotia Youth Selects, Vogler was asked to be one of the province’s two overage players.
He then played college ball south of the border in Iowa and California.
“I’m sure he left an impression (wherever) he went,” Boylen said.
An arm injury ended Vogler’s playing career, but he knew he wanted to stay involved with the game.
“Something that I’ve always been passionate about was baseball and I really saw myself working in professional baseball, I just didn't know at what capacity.”
He started sending out email after email, resumé after resumé to try and connect with as many people as he could. He eventually connected with Eddie Romero, one of the Red Sox’s two executive vice-presidents
A 27-year-old Berwick native working as a minor league development coach with the Boston Red Sox baseball team in the Dominican Republic.
The Red Sox picked up the option for the second year of his contract for 2022.
“Originally my dream as a child was to play in the MLB but this is even sweeter, I think.”
and assistant general managers. Vogler said Romero liked his skill set and how it aligned with the organization.
“I am grateful for Eddie and for the whole organization for everything they've done for us as family and for me as an employee,” he said. “It’s been first class all the way.”
Vogler’s wife, Helena Gonzalez, is from Mexico. Vogler said he didn’t speak Spanish when they started dating, but he’s quickly picked it up.
“It’s becoming my second language,” he said. “Being able to communicate with the players is definitely a skill I’ve developed over time. That has been crucial for my development as a coach.”