SEATTLE — Stephen Vogt and the Guardians took the field Saturday with a special cheering section behind them when they faced the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Vogt, who makes his home in nearby Olympia, Wash., invited players and families from the Capitol Little League Guardians to watch batting practice on the field and meet several players and coaches hours before first pitch.

Vogt’s sons, Clark and Bennett, play for the team that Cleveland’s skipper referred to as the “Baby Guards” and who recently won the majors championship in their league. He talked about getting the chance to spend some extra time with the boys during this homecoming trip to Seattle, thanks to some serendipity in the Guardians’ schedule.

“I love coming here,” said Vogt, who spent one season in 2023 as Mariners bullpen coach before being named Guardians manager. “I get to see my family, and it’s nice to come home.”

David Fry signs autographs for members of the Capitol Little League Baby Guardians. The Baby Guards won their division championship this season and feature CLE manager Stephen Vogt’s sons Clark and Bennett. Vogt hosted the team and their families during BP. pic.twitter.com/K51xaYyyQr

— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) June 15, 2025

With Father’s Day taking place during Major League Baseball’s Play Ball Weekend, the opportunity to bring everybody together in one place caused some extra excitement for the Vogt clan, even though Vogt’s wife, Alyssa, and daughter Payton were away at Payton’s softball tournament in Portland and had to miss all the fun.

Associate manager Craig Albernaz spent some time drilling glove work with Bennett in the grass near the Guardians dugout. Lane Thomas and David Fry were among the players to stop by and sign autographs for the Baby Guards. The youngsters watched intently as sluggers such as José Ramírez and Carlos Santana took their hacks in the batting cage.

Stephen Vogt’s youngest son, Bennett getting some glove work in with Associate Manager Craig Albernaz before tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/b0UHnbTkAE

— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) June 15, 2025

Vogt called baseball a “beautiful sport for kids to play and learn” and said he loves what MLB is doing to try and push more initiatives for youth sports and youth baseball.

“There’s so much to learn from the game of baseball about life,” Vogt said. “We need more kids playing. We need to continue to find better opportunities to get more people playing baseball.”