Another day, another career first for a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Infielder Will Wagner, one of the prospects acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi ahead of this season’s trade deadline, was called up to the Blue Jays on Monday and recorded his first Major League hit and RBI in his debut.
The lefty led off the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels with a double on the first pitch that he was thrown. In the third inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Spencer Horwitz hit back-to-back doubles and Wagner drove in the latter with a single up the middle. While writing this, Wagner stepped to the plate for the third time and recorded a single.
Will Wagner, the son of former closer Billy Wagner, rips a double on the first pitch he sees in The Show! pic.twitter.com/AWjGMd7ffg
— MLB (@MLB) August 13, 2024
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Though he was the lowest-ranked of the three prospects that Toronto acquired from Houston, Wagner has put up very impressive numbers in the minor leagues. He plays second, third, and first base, has a left-handed bat, and features an excellent eye at the plate.
The son of former All-Star closer Billy Wagner, Will Wagner was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Astros out of Liberty University in Virginia. He made his professional debut in Low-A in 2021 and played in High-A and Double-A in 2022.
After being limited to just 65 games in 2023, Wager has had a huge season in Triple-A in 2024. He slashed a .307/.424/.429 line with 54 walks and only 33 strikeouts over 70 games with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys before being traded to the Blue Jays and went 1o-for-25 with five walks and four strikeouts over seven games with the Buffalo Bisons.
Being a lefty bat with some positional versatility, Wagner should see plenty of playing time with the Blue Jays down the stretch. The final two months of the season will serve as an opportunity for young players to prove that they can be part of what the Blue Jays are hoping will be a turnaround in 2025. This is a very good start for Wagner.