Inside the Guardians’ playoff celebration 2024: Stephen Vogt gets the belt, Austin Hedges says there is ‘unfinished business’

Suds erupted from every corner. Ice cold beer and champagne mist sprayed in the air, stinging the eyes of those not fortunate enough to be wearing ski goggles. Cigar smoke wafted down hallways toward the batting tunnels. Plastic sheeting hung from the ceiling to form a protective barrier, making the scene look more like the inside of Dexter’s shipping container than a major league clubhouse.

Vogt, Cleveland’s first year manager who took over for a franchise legend in Terry Francona, stepped forward, grabbed the belt and raised it over his head. With their postseason credentials achieved, the Guardians can now turn their attention to winning the American League Central Division title for the 12th time. But first, Vogt’s players insisted on a speech.

The 39-year-old Visalia, California native obliged, but was brief: “I love you guys.”

Dance music thumped from a speaker on the outskirts of the celebration. All-Star José Ramírez posed for photos with rookies Angel Martinez and Jhonkensy Noel. Josh Naylor, who secured the first 30 home run, 100 RBI season of his career on Wednesday, clutched a cigar and watched while his teammate and brother, Bo, showered David Fry with beer.

Vogt told reporters that he had not allowed himself to get excited as the reality of reaching the playoffs drew near. Not until the very second that Andrés Giménez drove in the game-winning run in the 10th inning did Vogt allow himself to revel in the achievement.

“We just started hugging,” Vogt said. “Just what this group has been through, this is really special. The goal is to get in and then from here we keep pushing. You get in, you have a chance.”

Vogt said by the end of spring training he knew what this team was capable of. That is when he started to set his expectations.

“If you come to spring training and you’re not expecting to win the World Series, don’t come,” Vogt said. “Right away, right on that first road trip, we saw something special that this team might be able to get it done, and now we’re in it and we have an opportunity.”

Hedges agreed that he could sense a vibe or an energy around the club in spring training that was something different.

“It was different than teams I’ve been on in the past,” he said. “It was a decision to treat every day exactly the same. That’s what these guys have bought into. And the leadership up top, starting with Stephen Vogt is they hold us accountable to that. It really did start in spring training, and there was a reason we got off to a hot start in April.”

Soaked in alcohol but still wearing a T-shirt unlike his bare-chested celebration following Cleveland’s 2022 wild card series win against Tampa, Hedges said Thursday was exactly what he and his teammates expected out of each other.

“I feel like we had unfinished business in ‘22,” Hedges said. “We really had a really good shot to go all the way. And it’s tough to lose a heartbreaker in the postseason. Being away last year, all I could think about was coming back with my guys here.”