By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – Max Wagner’s dream of playing professional baseball is one step closer to reality.
With the 42nd overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected Wagner, a 2020 Green Bay Preble graduate.
“It’s a surreal feeling, and I still can’t believe it happened,” Wagner said. “It was a dream of mine when I first started playing baseball as a kid.”
Wagner, who recently completed his sophomore season at Clemson University, said he thought about the possibility of getting drafted in the spring.
“I had a good season, so I thought there was a shot,” he said. “I didn’t know where I’d go or how high, but it’s about what I expected. I’m fortunate to be going to such a good organization in Baltimore.”
Wagner had a season for the ages at Clemson, where he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year and was a finalist for the national player of the year.
He hit .369 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI, with an on-base percentage of .496 and a slugging percentage of .852.
His 27 home runs tied the Clemson single-season record and was tied for third-most in ACC history.
“I had all the confidence in the world, but I didn’t start the season (as a starter),” Wagner said. “I didn’t expect to get (the player of the year) with how the season started. I knew I could do it but needed consistent playing time.”
Wagner becomes the first-ever Green Bay public school player to be drafted by an MLB team.
In 2006, the Orioles also drafted former West De Pere pitcher Jason Berken – who also attended Clemson – in the sixth round.
Wagner, who was a three-time player of the year in the Fox River Classic Conference at Preble, had planned to play in the Cape Cod League this summer but opted out.
“My parents, my advisor and I decided it was in my best interest not to play (this summer),” he said. “I didn’t want to risk injury. Because I had such a good spring season (at Clemson), we thought nothing could boost me up much higher. I’ve been training in Green Bay, spending time with friends and family.”
Wagner played in the Northwoods League last summer with the Green Bay Booyah – now the Rockers.
In 31 games, he batted a team-high .313 with six home runs and 19 RBI.
Wagner said he’s not sure what the Orioles have in mind for him.
“I’m sure I’ll be talking to them soon,” he said. “They’ve had lots going on with the draft, so it’s up in the air. I hope (my immediate future) will be in Baltimore.”
Wagner said the Orioles haven’t talked to him about where he’ll play, but he played third base at Clemson.
Max, the son of Paul and Trisha Wagner, wasn’t shy about what he has to work on to improve his game.
“Everything,” he laughed. “To be one of the greats, you always have to work on your game – every day. I need to get stronger and faster.”
For the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft, teams are given a certain amount of bonus money to spend on the players they pick.
Each draft position is assigned a slot value.
For the 42nd overall pick, the slot value is $1,861,000.