Clemson baseball: Wagner projected as first rounder

Max Wagner has had a truly generational season.

My colleague Casey Cregan has said this has been a roller coaster of a season for Clemson baseball and boy is that the truth.  From 14-0 to 4-11 in the ACC, getting swept at Pitt and sweeping Georgia Tech, the Tigers have been all over the map in the 2022 journey.

One thing that hasn’t been up and down for the team this season is Max Wagner, he of the .379 batting average, .867 slugging, .506 OBP, 26 home runs and 74 RBI.

Day after day, game after game, series after series Wagner has crushed the ball.  If the Tigers fail to make a regional it won’t be Max Wagner’s fault.

As a Clemson fan there’s only one problem with Wagner’s season:  It has to end.  With apologies to Seth Beer, there hasn’t been a season like this one at Clemson in 20 years and Khalil Greene in 2002, in what was the greatest individual college baseball season I’ve ever seen.

Max Wagner has recently been projected as a 1st round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft

Maybe I’ll write about that magical season somewhere down the line, but this is about Max and how he’s now a projected first round draft pick.

"24. Boston Red Sox: Max Wagner, 3B, ClemsonWagner is one of the fastest risers in the draft this year after a stretch in April where he hit 12 homers in 14 games, putting him second in Division I right now behind Texas’ Alex Melendez. His pull-heavy approach would play very well in Fenway or Minute Maid, although I’m not sure he’s going to stay on the dirt.Scouting report: “Wagner changed his swing after an underwhelming freshman year for Clemson, and now the draft-eligible sophomore is destroying fastballs with plus-plus power to his pull side, and shows solid command of the strike zone, although his defense at third isn’t great and he might end up in an outfield corner.”"

As an Astros fan, I’m hopeful.  As a Clemson fan I’m crushed.  As a Wagner fan, I’m thrilled for Max.

From #213 overall by Perfect Game coming out of high school, to a mediocre freshman season to a player of the year candidate to a first round prospect, it’s been quite the couple of years for the Green Bay native.

Wagner’s been a joy to watch. Nothing fancy, no outrageous bat flips, finger pointing or nonsense.  Sure he gets excited, but 95% of his actions are celebratory towards his teammates, not his opponents.

His even demeanor post game is remarkable and his quiet confidence impressive.

I’m going to enjoy these last games with Max as a Tiger, whether it ends sooner or sometime in June.

It’s been 20 seasons since the ball has been mashed this way at DKS, an actual generation since Khalil raked like this.

Time flies.

Almost as fast as the ball flies when Wagner connects.