After Max Wagner posted a 1.348 OPS as a draft-eligible sophomore at Clemson in 2022, he was a shoo-in to be drafted that summer. The Baltimore Orioles selected the 5-foot-11, 215-pound infielder in the second round, but since then, his career has been anything but certain.
Wagner has missed considerable time due to injury as a pro. The Green Bay, Wis., native just hit the injured list for Double-A Chesapeake for the second time this season after appearing in just 25 games a year ago due to injuries.
Wagner is looking for an extended run of health once he gets back on the field.
“Stay healthy, that’s probably the biggest goal just because of missing all of last year,” Wagner said on Glenn Clark Radio May 25. “[But also] taking it day-by-day because this game is so hard … and improving offensively would be a big goal of mine.”
Wagner hit .226/.317/.453 in May, up from his .109/.208/.156 slash line during his Double-A stint last year. Remaining humble has been crucial after experiencing professional baseball for the first time.
“It’s taking it one day at a time, not being too big … be a little bit more humble,” Wagner said. “Coming in, getting drafted, being in pro ball for the first time, you’ve got everything working well. But this game will knock you down.”
Though Wagner’s overarching goal during his years in the minors has been to develop as a player and eventually make it to the big leagues, he’s also prioritized being a good teammate.
“I’ve always been a team-first kind of guy. I’m always rooting for my teammates to do [well],” Wagner said. “Usually, if the team is doing [well], then I’m doing pretty [well] and my other teammates are doing well. I think we all know when we’re rolling as a team, our individual numbers are probably pretty solid as well.”
That overarching goal hasn’t wavered either, despite Wagner facing injury setbacks.
“Obviously, my goal is to make it [to the majors], whether it’s with the Orioles or with a different team,” Wagner said. “I don’t really tend to think about the internal clock and stuff like that.”
For more from Wagner, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Baysox team photographer Joe Noyes