Neil Wagner (baseball)

Neil Kannas Wagner (born January 1, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Saitama Seibu Lions.

For the cricket player, see Neil Wagner.
Neil Wagner
Wagner with the Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Born: (1984-01-01) January 1, 1984
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 30, 2011, for the Oakland Athletics
NPB: May 30, 2018, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
Last appearance
MLB: May 14, 2014, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: September 13, 2019, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
MLB statistics
Win–loss record2–4
Earned run average4.92
Strikeouts43
NPB statistics
Win–loss record2–1
Earned run average4.91
Strikeouts32
Teams

Amateur career

Wagner attended Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He enrolled at North Dakota State University, where he played college baseball for the North Dakota State Bison and studied biology and chemistry. He left before graduating.[1]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians selected Wagner in the 21st round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.

Oakland Athletics

On May 14, 2010, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations.[2] He was promoted to the majors for the first time by the Athletics on August 30, 2011.

Wagner with the Buffalo Bisons in 2013

San Diego Padres

On May 28, 2012, Wagner was waived by the Athletics and claimed by the San Diego Padres.[3][4] Wagner spent most of 2012 with the Triple-A Tucson Padres. He was designated for assignment on August 23, and became a free agent on November 3.

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 15, 2012, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Wagner to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training.[5] The deal was announced by the Jays on November 21, 2012.[6]

Wagner began the 2013 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He was called up by the Toronto Blue Jays on May 29.[7] Wagner recorded his first career win in a game on June 7 against the Texas Rangers, pitching 11⁄3 innings in relief. After posting a 2–3 record with a 3.26 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 20 appearances, Wagner was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on July 21 to make room on the 25-man roster for Melky Cabrera's return from the disabled list.[8] Wagner was recalled when Cabrera went on the disabled list on August 2, 2013.[9]

The Blue Jays optioned Wagner to the Buffalo Bisons on March 14, 2014. He was recalled by the Blue Jays on April 9, 2014,[10] and sent back to Buffalo on April 26. After a consultation with Dr. James Andrews on August 12, 2014, it was determined that Wagner would require Tommy John surgery and was expected to miss the rest of the 2014 season as well as the entire 2015 season.[11] He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2014.[12] The following day, Wagner was released.[13]

Tampa Bay Rays

On September 12, Wagner signed a two-year minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, that included an invitation to 2016 spring training.[14] He was released on August 2, 2017.[15]

New York Mets

On August 15, 2017, Wagner signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[16] Wagner made 8 appearances for the Triple–A Las Vegas 51s, tallying 10+1⁄3 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[17]

Saitama Seibu Lions

On December 13, 2017, Wagner signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[18] He was placed on waivers on September 28, 2018.[19]

References
  1. Kennedy, Brendan (May 30, 2013). "Blue Jays call-up Neil Wagner brings the heat with a 99 m.p.h. fastball". thestar.com. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  2. "A's Select RHP Neil Wagner from Sacramento | oaklandathletics.com: Official Info". Oakland.athletics.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  3. Slusser, Susan. "A's option out Graham Godfrey, Neil Wagner will be up tomorrow | Oakland Athletics : The Drumbeat | an SFGate.com blog". Sfgate.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  4. "Major League Baseball Transactions | MLB.com: Transactions". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  5. "Minor Moves: Wagner, Angels, Rhymes, Wood". 15 November 2012.
  6. "Blue Jays sign three more free agents". MILB.com. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  7. "Blue Jays promote 3 Herd hurlers". Buffalo Bisons. May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  8. Chisholm, Gregor; Peaslee, Evan (July 21, 2013). "Melky activated, batting fifth in left field". MLB.com. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  9. Chisholm, Gregor (August 2, 2013). "Melky lands on disabled list". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  10. "MLB: Jays recall pitcher Wagner from triple-A Buffalo, option righty Walden". Canadian Press. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  11. Davidi, Shi (August 12, 2014). "Jays' Wagner to undergo Tommy John surgery". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. Wilmoth, Charlie (September 1, 2014). "Blue Jays Designate Neil Wagner For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. "Blue Jays reinstate Morrow, select Norris; Lawrie on 60-day DL". TSN.ca. September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  14. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (September 12, 2014). "Rays sign reliever Wagner to two-year deal". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  15. "New York-Penn League Transactions". MiLB.com. p. August 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  16. "Mets' Neil Wagner: Inks minor-league deal with Mets". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  17. "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. Downing, Kyle (December 13, 2017). "International Notes: Keithron Moss, Bolsinger, Wagner". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  19. "埼玉西武ライオンズ選手契約について｜埼玉西武ライオンズ".
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