MILWAUKEE -- The tears that filled Stephen Vogt's eyes Tuesday said more than any of his words. After an examination revealed damage to the capsule, rotator cuff and labrum in his ailing right shoulder, Vogt faces a surgery that would end his season and could end his career.
Vogt won't make a call on surgery until he gets a second opinion next week.
"There's a lot of unknowns still. I'm taking a few days, given the information we got [Monday], before we make a final decision," Vogt said. "It's hard, because I know that surgery means [I'll be] out for the year, and I know what that means going forward.
"I'm sad. I worked really hard my whole life and my whole career to help win games, and when you can't help your teammates win games on the field, it's really hard. Obviously, there's big implications here with a second shoulder injury like this that I don't like to think about, but I am thinking about.
"That being said, I'm healthy in other ways. My family is great and I'm a very blessed man. I focus on those things, and that's truly what keeps me happy."
Vogt had his first shoulder surgery in 2009 as a Rays farmhand. He went on to Oakland, where he was a two-time American League All-Star before the Brewers claimed him off waivers last June. Vogt provided some left-handed thump, slugging .508 in 129 Brewers plate appearances but threw out only one of 28 base-stealers and made it an offseason mission to strengthen his arm.
Whether that extra work produced the injury is unknown. Vogt went down after only one Spring Training game, slowly built up to a Minor League rehab assignment and was healthy and nearing the end of his tenure at Double-A Biloxi when he re-injured his shoulder on a throw to third base on Saturday night.
"Stephen was a guy coming back who could have provided some of that [left-handed] balance. We miss that part of him," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He's also exceptional in the clubhouse. He's a leader. He just flat out is a leader. He did a tremendous job of that last year, even with a new team. But he's a leader, and so we'll miss that, as well."
Vogt will stay with the Brewers through the start of a road trip later this week in Denver before departing for a second opinion, probably with orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Manny Pina and Jett Bandy will continue to share duties behind the plate. Brewers catchers entered Tuesday 26th of 30 Major League teams with a .257 weighted on-base average.
Asked whether the team would look outside for help at the position, Brewers general manager David Stearns said, "I don't think we've been shy in saying that's an area where we need better production offensively. We have two guys here who we believe are capable of providing that production. We've seen it in spurts this year, but we haven't seen it consistently, so it's something we're going to continue to discuss and observe.
"I still have confidence in both Manny and Jett that they can get it done. And if we get to the point where we need to consider outside options, we will."

Sogard out, Franklin in ... and then out
The Brewers shifted Vogt to the 60-day disabled list and optioned slumping infielder Eric Sogard to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday to promote Double-A Biloxi utility man Nick Franklin, who started at second base on Tuesday against Indians ace Corey Kluber, only to sustain a strained right quad in the fourth inning. Franklin could be headed for the 10-day disabled list.
Sogard was hitless in his last 27 at-bats and was 6-for-60 this season. He had enough service time to refuse the optional assignment but elected to accept it.
"The goal here is for Eric to get some consistent playing time, for us to get him back to where he was last year," Stearns said. "He was a significant contributor this team."