Max Wagner sat in Clemson’s dugout in February as his teammates took the sector in opposition to Indiana. The sophomore wasn’t within the Tigers’ opening day lineup, and he wouldn’t begin the following day both. Up to that time, he’d hit two profession dwelling runs and had performed sparingly as a backup third baseman.
Five months, 500 miles and 75 faculty hits later, Wagner sat in a distinct dugout Tuesday.
In a fresh-printed Orioles jersey emblazoned along with his title, Wagner spoke with reporters at Camden Yards for the primary time after formally signing with Baltimore within the second spherical because the No. 42 total decide of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft earlier this month.
“These last five months have definitely been crazy for me,” he mentioned. “I had confidence in myself that I could get here, but just the journey that I’ve been on the last five months has been unreal.”
Wagner began simply one of many first 5 video games this yr for Clemson, a workforce which didn’t make this yr’s NCAA Tournament. But as soon as within the lineup, he smacked the ball all around the subject. His 27 dwelling runs tied for the third-most in NCAA Division I, he simply led the Atlantic Coast Conference in slugging proportion and was named the ACC Player of the Year.
Suddenly, Clemson’s backup third baseman was a coveted MLB prospect. The Orioles chosen him within the second spherical of final week’s draft and signed him for $1.9 million, a supply with direct information of the deal advised The Baltimore Sun, simply over the slot worth of $1,861,900.
Wagner’s senior highschool season in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was canceled as a result of coronavirus in 2020 and any likelihood that he could get chosen in that summer season’s draft — he was rated because the No. 213 highschool participant by Perfect Game — have been dashed when the draft was abbreviated from 40 rounds to 5. The subsequent yr, as a real freshman at Clemson, he hit .214 in a reserve position.
Before this season, Wagner knew he was eligible for the draft, in contrast to most sophomores, as a result of he’ll quickly flip 21. But that wasn’t on his thoughts as he fought for enjoying time.
“I didn’t really think about that,” he mentioned, “I just thought about having fun and competing with my teammates, just trying to make the most of it.”
Wagner does have an Orioles connection. His father served as a hitting teacher at Impact Sports Academy in Wisconsin — which is run by one other Green Bay native, Clemson participant and Orioles’ draft decide, Jason Berken, who pitched for Baltimore from 2009 to 2012.
As a local of Green Bay, dwelling of the Packers, Wagner’s household has season tickets to Lambeau Field. So, it’s unlikely he’ll convert to being a Ravens fan.
“That’s gonna be tough,” he mentioned. “Being from Green Bay, it’s kind of hard to get away from the Packers.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Nathan Ruiz contributed to this text.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com