Vogelbach was anything but the outgoing personality he was with the Cubs, bouncing back and forth between the Mariners and Class AAA Tacoma. The Mariners hope Vogelbach’s rediscovered effervescence translates into productivity, because the first-base battle is suddenly wide open.
PEORIA, Ariz. — Try finding pictures of Dan Vogelbach smiling last spring. His pearly whites didn’t get much exposure to the Arizona sun.
Pressure consumed his mornings, frustration his afternoons — the bubbly first baseman everyone had heard about was unrecognizable.
After spending the first part of his career backing up Anthony Rizzo in Chicago, Vogelbach finally had an opportunity to rake when the Mariners traded reliever Mike Montgomery for him toward the end of the 2016 season.