Anaheim – Will Wagner, the son of former All-Star closer Billy Wagner, made a fantastic debut with the Blue Jays. Called up from Triple-A Buffalo for the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Wagner impressed everyone with a 3-for-4 night, including a double, an RBI, and a run scored, helping the Blue Jays win 4-2.
In his very first Major League at-bat, Wagner hit a double at 104.5 mph. In his second at-bat, he drove in a run with a single, and in his third, he smacked another single at 105.9 mph. Wagner became the fourth Blue Jay ever to get at least three hits in his debut, joining J.P. Arencibia (2010), Pat Borders (1988), and Danny Ainge (1979).
Wagner also played great defense at second base, making every play and even diving to stop a hit in the eighth inning.
Will Wagner Shines in MLB Debut with 3-for-4 Performance for Blue Jays
“I don’t know if it could have gone any better,” Wagner said. “I was just happy we got the win and had good vibes in the clubhouse.”
Pitcher Bowden Francis also had a standout performance, pitching seven innings, allowing only one hit and one run, with eight strikeouts. Leo Jiménez hit a two-run homer in the third inning for his first career home run.
Wagner, who is the Blue Jays’ No. 21 prospect, joined other sons of former big leaguers in the lineup, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho. Bo Bichette, son of Dante, is injured, and Cavan Biggio, son of Craig, was traded earlier this season.
Wagner was traded to the Blue Jays from the Houston Astros at the Trade Deadline, along with Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfido, in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi. Drafted in the 18th round by the Astros in 2021, Wagner’s impressive performance in the minors earned him a spot on the Blue Jays. He hit .315/.432/.444 with six home runs and 43 RBIs this season between Triple-A teams Sugar Land and Buffalo.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said they’re excited to see what Wagner can do. Wagner will primarily play second base, but may also play third base. Schneider hopes Wagner will show he deserves a spot in the Blue Jays’ future plans.
Wagner received the call-up news while his parents were visiting him in Buffalo. The Bisons’ manager, Casey Candaele, joked with Wagner before breaking the news that he was going to the Major Leagues, making the moment even more special for Wagner.
With his strong debut, there’s high hope that Wagner will continue to be a valuable player for the Blue Jays. “He’s just a baseball player, and those guys usually do well,” Schneider said. “He makes smart decisions and hits the ball hard. We expect him to perform well and see what he can do over the next couple of weeks.”
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