Toronto, ON – The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed a new face to their roster on Tuesday night as Will Wagner, son of all-star closer Billy Wagner, made his highly anticipated MLB debut.
The 25-year-old pitcher took the mound in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles, and despite some initial nerves, he quickly settled in and showed off his impressive skills.
Wagner struck out the first batter he faced, Cedric Mullins, with a 97 mph fastball. He then went on to retire the next two batters, Austin Hays and Trey Mancini, with ease.
The crowd at Rogers Centre erupted in cheers as Wagner walked off the field, having successfully completed his first MLB inning with a perfect 1-2-3 performance.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Wagner said in a post-game interview. “To have my family here to witness it and to have the support of my teammates and the fans, it was truly special.”
Wagner’s debut was a long time coming, as he was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2015 MLB Draft and has been working his way up through the minor leagues ever since.
His father, Billy Wagner, was a seven-time all-star closer and played for multiple teams including the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. Will credits his father for instilling in him a love for the game and teaching him the fundamentals of pitching.
“I’ve learned so much from my dad over the years,” Wagner said. “He’s been my biggest supporter and my biggest critic, and I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was impressed with Wagner’s debut and praised his composure on the mound.
“He looked like he belonged out there,” Montoyo said. “He has a great arm and he showed it tonight. We’re excited to have him on our team.”
Wagner’s debut was also a special moment for his family, who were in attendance to witness his big moment.
“It’s a dream come true for our family,” Billy Wagner said. “To see Will out there on the same field that I played on, it’s a surreal feeling. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
As for what’s next for Wagner, he is focused on continuing to improve and help his team win games.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Wagner said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win.”
With a successful debut under his belt, it’s safe to say that Will Wagner has a bright future ahead of him in the MLB. Blue Jays fans can look forward to seeing more of his impressive pitching skills in the games to come.
