CLEVELAND — The top two teams in the American League Central feature two managers who knew each other as friends long before they became divisional foes. And, now, they might be going to battle against one another from opposite dugouts for years to come.

First-year Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and second-year Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro worked together in 2007. Vogt was just entering his professional playing days as a prospect in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Quatraro was in the beginning stages of his managerial and coaching career at the professional level.

Vogt played a number of different positions — meaning he was involved in a high number of positional meetings and drills — and Quatraro didn't have a sizable coaching staff to delegate much work, so the two were almost always together.

As Vogt's playing days came to an end, he began learning all he could about the behind-the-scenes workings of managing. In retrospect, though, much of those lessons began back in 2007. Quatraro was there, and it's where Vogt's viewpoints on how to carry himself began to take shape.

"I mean, Q was my first manager in pro ball — taught me everything," Vogt said before the Guardians' 8-5 win over the Royals Tuesday night. "I know how to work and act like a professional, and I had him in my first two years and I couldn't have been more thankful for somebody to show me what it means to be a pro, what it means to work, what it means to go out, hold your teammates accountable and hold yourself accountable to being the best you can be.

"And Q embodied that as a manager, leader, person, in every role he's held."

Their paths eventually diverged. Vogt progressed through his playing career as Quatraro made his way through the minor leagues as a manager and coach and then into the majors, including a few seasons in which he worked on Terry Francona's coaching staff in Cleveland.

Guardians hire Stephen Vogt as manager one year after Royals hire Matt Quatraro

Before the 2023 season, the Royals hired Quatraro to be their manager. A year later, Vogt joined the Guardians in the same role.

And, just like that, the two have been set up as rival managers for two teams full of youth and exceeding expectations as the top two in the AL Central.

In fact, Quatraro helped Vogt during the interview process, as the former had experience with Cleveland's front office. Quatraro also let Vogt know Cleveland would be a place he wanted to manage. It was the same reasoning Francona often gave for why he was happy in Cleveland: the people.

"It starts with the people, right?" Quatraro said Tuesday. "[Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff] and the quality of people they are. And I mean everybody in the clubhouse, the strength coaches, everybody. As soon as I got here, it felt like family. … They just welcomed me in so quickly that it was hard not to feel good about it."

When Vogt was hired, the Guardians noted his ability to connect with just about everyone while keeping things light was a major reason why he was given the job. It was also a talent of Francona's. Quatraro had already viewed that side of Vogt, even back in 2007 when he was just a young prospect.

"He was incredible on the bus trips, just keeping it light," Quatraro said. "His sense of humor that everybody knows is just incredible. But he worked. I mean, he's an incredible worker."

Several Guardians players have noted how much they've appreciated Vogt's ability to connect with them, and that he has an understanding of their situation. Sometimes, it's the little things that can make a big difference. Quatraro, way back in 2007, was perhaps the first to show that to Vogt.

"It was the last day of the season in 2007 and I was hitting .303. And so, of course, like every player I figure out, I'm like, 'Oh, man, if I go 0-for-4, [it'll be] .299,'" Vogt said. "And he grabbed me before the game and he said, 'Just so you know, I won't let you get below .300. I'm going to pull you if you're 0-for-3.'

"I said, 'Well,' and he said, 'No, it's really special.' At the time he probably thought that was going to be my only year in pro ball."

Vogt did end up in a position, late in the game, where one more out might have dropped him below the magical threshold of a .300 season.

"I was leading off the next inning and he hadn't said a word to me yet, so I'm getting ready, I'm like, 'Oh, man, did he forget?' And then, last second before he ran to coach third, he goes, 'You're done Vogter.' But it was just special. Special person."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, Royals manager Matt Quatraro history