Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Wagner batted just .214/.305/.345 as a Clemson freshman in 2021 and began this season as a defensive replacement at third base. He worked his way into the starting lineup by the end of February and began to take off in mid-April when he homered seven times in five games. He went deep 17 times in his final 24 contests to tie Khalil Greene's school record with 27, ranked second in NCAA Division I in slugging (.852) and third in homers and was named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. 

Teams still aren't quite sure what to make of Wagner because the sophomore-eligible has little track record, though he did perform well with wood bats in the Northwoods League last summer. He has at least plus raw power, though he does create it more with strength than bat speed, and even while struggling in 2021 he showed the ability to work counts and draw walks. He has made adjustments to his right-handed stroke and approach that have allowed him to make more consistent contact this spring and he's no longer helpless against sliders. 

Wagner is a capable defender at third base with good body control, decent range and solid arm strength. He needs to improve his consistency at the hot corner because the game speeds up on him at times. He's a fringy runner but not a liability on the bases. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Wagner began his sophomore year of college on the bench for Clemson and finished it with Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors after blasting 17 homers in his final 24 games and tying Khalil Greene’s single-season school record of 27 overall. The surge made Wagner one of the biggest pop-up prospects of the 2022 Draft. He landed in the second round with the Orioles and signed for $1.9 million. Wagner’s pro debut was less impactful, though he reached Double-A Bowie during an otherwise unremarkable first full season in 2023. Offseason left hamate surgery delayed his 2024 debut by a month and after quickly making it to Double-A, he struggled there when he landed on the injured list in late June with a back injury.

Wagner is a strong right-handed hitter with a short, quick swing and some power, though probably not the record-setting pop he displayed in college. He made significant improvements to his approach on campus. Similarly, he hit the ball harder last summer compared with his debut even as his contact rate sagged while he adjusted to higher-level pitching. His exit velocities suggest he can be an average hitter with improvements to his barrel path and spin recognition, especially with two strikes. He’s always shown an ability to draw walks and can steal some bases despite average speed. 

Wagner was considered a capable defender coming out of school and is now seen as at least above average at third base with good range and solid-plus arm strength. He also showed well at second, where he played more than a quarter of his games in ‘23. That defensive versatility adds to what remains a bat-first profile for Wagner, who could grow into an offensive-minded regular or a platoon player at the highest level with more seasoning.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

One of the biggest popup prospects of the 2022 Draft, Wagner went from a defensive replacement at the start of the season at Clemson to the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year after homering 17 times in his final 24 games to tie Khalil Greene’s school record with 27 jacks. His surge landed him in the second round with the Orioles, who gave him $1.9 million to sign. Wagner’s pro debut was significantly less impactful, though he did reach High-A Aberdeen down the stretch and showed good on-base skills in a small sample.  

Wagner didn’t have much of a track record after struggling at Clemson as a freshman, though he did perform well with wood bats in the Northwoods League that summer and always showed the ability to work counts and draw walks. His raw power is at least plus, though it's considered more strength-based than the result of extraordinary bat speed. He’s a right-handed hitter who made significant improvements to his approach in college, becoming better equipped against breaking balls, particularly with two strikes. 

Wagner is considered a capable defender at third base with decent range, solid arm strength and good body control, though he could improve his consistency at the hot corner to keep the pro game from speeding up on him. He’s a fringy runner but not a liability on the bases. He has a bat-first profile -- Wagner’s eventual ceiling hinges on his ability to build on his breakout success in college.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

Wagner batted just .214/.305/.345 as a Clemson freshman in 2021 and began this season as a defensive replacement at third base. He worked his way into the starting lineup by the end of February and began to take off in mid-April, when he homered seven times in five games. He went deep 17 times in his final 24 contests to tie Khalil Greene's school record with 27, ranked second in NCAA Division I in slugging (.852) and third in homers and was named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. One of the biggest popup prospects in the 2022 class, his surge landed him in the second round with the Orioles, who gave him $1.9 million to sign.

Wagner’s lack of track record made him a little harder to evaluate as the spring wore on, though he had performed well with wood bats in the Northwoods League last summer. He has at least plus raw power, though he does create it more with strength than bat speed. Even while struggling in 2021, he showed the ability to work counts and draw walks. He has made adjustments to his right-handed stroke and approach that have enabled him to make more consistent contact this spring and he's no longer helpless against sliders. 

Wagner is a capable defender at third base with good body control, decent range and solid arm strength. He needs to improve his consistency at the hot corner because the game speeds up on him at times. He's a fringy runner but not a liability on the bases.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/03/2024	Bowie Baysox activated 3B Max Wagner from the 60-day injured list.
	08/02/2024	Bowie Baysox transferred 3B Max Wagner from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	08/02/2024	Bowie Baysox transferred 3B Max Wagner from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	06/28/2024	Bowie Baysox placed 3B Max Wagner on the 7-day injured list.
	05/14/2024	Bowie Baysox activated 3B Max Wagner from the 7-day injured list.
	05/07/2024	sent 3B Max Wagner on a rehab assignment to Aberdeen IronBirds.
	05/07/2024	Bowie Baysox sent 3B Max Wagner on a rehab assignment to Aberdeen IronBirds.
	05/03/2024	Bowie Baysox sent 3B Max Wagner on a rehab assignment to FCL Orioles.
	04/05/2024	3B Max Wagner assigned to Bowie Baysox from Orioles Organization.
	04/02/2024	3B Max Wagner assigned to Orioles Organization from Bowie Baysox.
	03/07/2024	Baltimore Orioles Prospects activated 3B Max Wagner.
	03/07/2024	Baltimore Orioles Prospects activated 3B Max Wagner.
	09/06/2023	Bowie Baysox activated 3B Max Wagner from the 7-day injured list.
	08/30/2023	Bowie Baysox placed 3B Max Wagner on the 7-day injured list.
	08/08/2023	3B Max Wagner assigned to Bowie Baysox from Aberdeen IronBirds.
	03/13/2023	3B Max Wagner roster status changed by Baltimore Orioles.
	03/13/2023	3B Max Wagner roster status changed by Baltimore Orioles.
	09/06/2022	3B Max Wagner assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
	08/16/2022	3B Max Wagner assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	08/16/2022	Delmarva Shorebirds activated 3B Max Wagner.
	08/13/2022	3B Max Wagner assigned to FCL Orioles.
	07/26/2022	Baltimore Orioles signed 3B Max Wagner.
	05/02/2022	3B Max Wagner assigned to Clemson Tigers.
	05/02/2022	Clemson Tigers activated 3B Max Wagner.