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Will Wagner (baseball)

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Will Wagner
Wagner with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 7
Infielder
Born: (1998-07-29) July 29, 1998 (age 26)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 12, 2024[a], for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through August 31, 2024)
Batting average.357
Home runs2
Runs batted in8
Teams

William James Wagner (born July 29, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

High school and college

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Wagner attended the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia, where his father, former MLB pitcher Billy Wagner, was his manager.[2] He played college baseball at Liberty University for four years.

Professional career

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Houston Astros

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Wagner was selected by the Houston Astros, his father's former team, in the 18th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He made his professional debut with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and spent 2022 with the Asheville Tourists and Corpus Christi Hooks.[4] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[5] In 2023, the Astros invited him to spring training.[6]

Toronto Blue Jays

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On July 29, 2024, Wagner, Joey Loperfido, and Jake Bloss were traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.[7] In seven games for the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he batted .400/.516/.600 with one home run and two RBI. On August 12, Wagner was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[8] He debuted that day against the Los Angeles Angels, recording three hits and a run batted in for a 4–2 win.[9] On August 27, 2024, against the Boston Red Sox, Wagner hit his first major-league home run off of Brennan Bernardino.[10] On August 31, Wagner had a five-hit game against the Minnesota Twins in a 15–0 victory, being the first time a five-hit game has been recorded in club history by a rookie.[11]

Notes

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  1. ^ Wagner made his MLB debut on August 12, 2024. On August 26, 2024, he appeared in the resumption of a suspended game that had begun on June 26, 2024.[1] As all MLB statistics are recorded on the date that a game started, Wagner has MLB statistics with a June 26 date.

References

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  1. ^ Abraham, Peter (August 26, 2024). "You thought you've seen everything in baseball? Danny Jansen just played for Red Sox and Blue Jays in the same game". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "New Wagner in town: 'Stros draft son of Billy". MLB.com.
  3. ^ Rome, Chadler (July 13, 2021). "Astros draft Billy Wagner's son". Houston Chronicle.
  4. ^ "'It's special': Hooks' Will Wagner follows father's footsteps in Astros organization".
  5. ^ "Astros Prospect Will Wagner Continues Breakout Showing in Arizona Fall League". November 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "It all comes full circle for this Astros legend and his son". MLB.com.
  7. ^ McTaggart, Brian. "Astros deal for Kikuchi, send 3 players to Jays". MLB.com.
  8. ^ "Blue Jays Select Will Wagner". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Padilla, Doug (August 13, 2024). "With growing confidence, Will Wagner delivers 3-hit game for Blue Jays in MLB debut". CBC. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (August 27, 2024). "Blue Jays' Wagner a bright spot in sloppy loss to Red Sox". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Wilner, Mike (August 31, 2024). "Blue Jays close out August with fireworks at Target Field". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
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