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Clemson Baseball: Checking in on Max Wagner

By Marty Coleman

Clemson sophomore Max Wagner (29) hits a three run home run against Boston College during the bottom of the seventh inning at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson Friday, May 20, 2022.Clemson University Tigers Vs Boston College Ncaa Baseball
Clemson sophomore Max Wagner (29) hits a three run home run against Boston College during the bottom of the seventh inning at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson Friday, May 20, 2022.Clemson University Tigers Vs Boston College Ncaa Baseball /
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Max Wagner had a season of historic proportions for Clemson baseball in 2022, slashing .370/.496/.852 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI for the Tigers.

Time after time Wagner came up huge for the inconsistent Clemson team, which missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, leading to Monte Lee’s dismissal and the eventual hiring of Erik Bakich.

Once projected as a first round pick, Wagner slipped to the second round (42nd overall) as concerns about his size and position on defense arose prior to the draft.

The 21 year old Wagner, from Green Bay, Wisconsin reportedly signed for $1,900,000 and was sent off to the Florida Complex League (FCL) Orioles affiliate, where he played exactly one game, going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, before being promoted to A ball at Delmarva in the Carolina League.

In 7 games with Delmarva, Wagner is slashing .286/.444./.464 with 6 RBI in 28 at-bats.  Wagner has yet to connect on a home run in his short professional career.

Wagner has played errorless defense in his 18 chances at third base to date (2 games as DH) and that’s the position he’s played exclusively early on in his career.

Max Wagner’s breakout season with Clemson baseball led him to being the 42nd overall pick in the MLB Draft and he’s now plying his trade at the A ball level

Wagner  only played two seasons at Clemson with the vast majority of his numbers being accumulated as a sophomore in 2022, despite not even starting on opening day.

This led to questions about how he’d perform as a professional despite his incredible season at the collegiate level and those questions were reinforced by two summers in the Northwoods League where he combined to hit .285 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI in 137 at-bats.

Long-term there are questions about whether Wagner’s prodigious power displayed at Clemson this past season will translate to the professional game.

Even for a second round pick, it’s very early in Wagner’s professional career as it takes time to acclimate to the grinding schedule that is minor league baseball and minor league life.

Next. 6 freshmen likely to redshirt in 2022. dark

The season runs through September 11, so Wagner has about two weeks left in his inaugural professional season with the team from Salisbury, Maryland.

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