Melvin thrilled to see protégé Vogt’s success with Guardians

CLEVELAND — Just as a light rain started to fall on Progressive Field, members of opposing dugouts crossed the proverbial enemy line to gather around the batting cage.

Mike Yastrzemski and Curt Casali joined a small group to catch up with former San Francisco Giants bench coach Kai Correa, who left in the offseason to become the field coordinator with the Cleveland Guardians.

Later, Matt Chapman waited by the visiting dugout steps to talk with his former Oakland Athletics teammate and firstyear Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. Manager Bob Melvin rushed up the steps to join the group as soon as he finished up his pregame media session.

When Melvin managed Vogt, he often said he saw manager material in the veteran catcher. So the Giants’ skipper is not at all surprised to see the Guardians soar to a 54-31 record with him at the helm heading into Friday’s game, nor is he shocked Vogt has emerged as an early candidate for Manager of the Year honors.

“What a job he’s done with this team,” Melvin said. “I’ve been plenty of times with him in the dugout, I know how he resonates with players. He’s been through it all in this game before — he’s been a star, he’s been a guy sent down — so he has a lot of experience with these guys even though, at this point in time, he’s not an experienced manager. But he’s doing a fantastic job.”

Melvin could not yet articulate how he felt to compete against someone he’s managed before — he’ll have a better feeling after Friday’s opener of the Giants’ three-game series in Cleveland — but remembers Vogt in the Oakland dugout showing signs that he’d manage once his playing days were over.

A former longtime catcher, too, Melvin saw a bit of himself in Vogt.

“It’s just the questions he was constantly asking, he plays a position that watches the game like a manager does,” Melvin said. “I always had a feeling he’d have a future in this. … Just constant chatter between the two of us. I’m always pretty close to my catchers anyway, trying to prepare them to watch the game like I do.”

Howard on the move: The Giants traded right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard to the Guardians in exchange for cash considerations on Friday, the team announced.

Howard had been designated for assignment during the last home stand so that the team could recall Landen Roupp — then a much-needed fresh arm — to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roupp was optioned shortly afterward and Howard hit the waiver wire. The 27-year-old wasn’t with the bigleague team at the time of the trade, so the transaction wasn’t as simple as changing clubhouses at Progressive Field.

Howard had a handful of rough outings, including his final appearance against the Dodgers in which he gave up six runs. But he also made key contributions, including throwing 4 2⁄3 innings of scoreless ball in a one-run win against the Chicago Cubs earlier that home stand.

“He did a great job for us,” Melvin said. “Put up with any number of different roles. He never complained, always said, ‘I’ll pitch when you want me to pitch.’ The time where he finished out that (Cubs) game when our bullpen was beat up. He’s coming after openers. He’s done a nice job, and I’m happy he’s with another big league team.” Yaz’s elbow: Yastrzemski’s elbow was swollen the day after he was hit by a pitch in Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Though he was initially out of the lineup Friday, Yastrzemski told Melvin his elbow felt great and that he could play. Hearing that, Melvin slotted him into the lineup for Luis Matos in right field, batting seventh against right-hander Tanner Bibee.