Will Wagner

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #17 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The son of seven-time all-star Billy Wagner, Will has gone from an unheralded 18th-round pick to one of the better performers over the last two seasons in the Astros organization. After Wagner hit .261/.374/.394 at two levels in 2022, he returned to Double-A Corpus Christi to begin 2023. After beginning the season on the injured list and struggling over the first month, Wagner was shut down with right wrist discomfort. The injury required surgery to remove the hook of his hamate bone. Wagner returned to Corpus Christi on Aug. 7, hitting .331/.396/.562 over the final 30 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Wagner is a bat-first infielder whose advanced hit tool drives his profile. He has quick hands, is rarely fooled in the strike zone and hardly ever expands the zone. His strong contact and plate discipline allow him to get the most out of below-average impact. Wagner has shown the ability to make his hardest contact at good launch angles but rarely drives the ball in the air to his pull side. Wagner’s advanced barrel control allows him to hit for more power than his raw exit velocity numbers would suggest. He is a below-average runner and lacks range in the field. Wagner has split time between second base and third base but is below-average at each spot.
  
  The Future: Wagner is a hit-first infielder with an above-average hit tool but no real position in the field, and looks like a bat-first, second-division regular.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #18 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The son of former all-star closer Billy Wagner, the younger Wagner was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference first-team selection who hit .305/.377/.462 over three seasons with Liberty. The Astros drafted Wagner in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and signed him for $50,000. He got his first pro experience at Low-A Fayetteville and split his 2022 season between High-A and Double-A. Wagner starred in the Arizona Fall League after the season, hitting .346/.433/.712 with three home runs over 14 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Wagner has a hit-over-power profile but started to show more thump in the season and into the fall. He makes contact at above-average rate and manages the zone well, making him a difficult player to strike out. He shows above-average on-base abilities and works deep into counts. He's a highly skilled hitter who consistently takes professional at-bats. The questions around Wagner's bat center on his lack of power projection. He's fairly close to physical max with a setup that isn't conducive for much juice. The Astros have had success coaxing more power out of their prospects, however, so Wagner's progress in that department is worth watching. Wagner is a below-average runner who lacks range in the infield. He is a smart defender with good actions who profiles best at second base, where his average arm won't be as taxed as it is at third.
  
  The Future: Wagner is a bat-first utility type with the upside to grow into second-division regular status if he discovers average game power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 45.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #412 prospect in 2020 draft
  Wagner is the son of former major league reliever Billy Wagner. A 6-foot, 185-pound second baseman, scouts saw Wagner as a day three sort of prospect in a typical draft class who has feel for the barrel and can handle second base. He had a loud sophomore campaign in 2019 when he hit .305/.382/.444 with six home runs and 14 doubles and was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference first team. Wagner was also an all-star in the New England League last summer, where he hit .329/.416/.557 with seven home runs. Wagner doesn’t have much in the way of loud tools but stands out for his feel for the barrel and his major league bloodlines.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The son of former all-star closer Billy Wagner, the younger Wagner was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference first-team selection who hit .305/.377/.462 over three seasons with Liberty. The Astros drafted Wagner in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and signed him for $50,000. He got his first pro experience at Low-A Fayetteville and split his 2022 season between High-A and Double-A. Wagner starred in the Arizona Fall League after the season, hitting .346/.433/.712 with three home runs over 14 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Wagner has a hit-over-power profile but started to show more thump in the season and into the fall. He makes contact at above-average rate and manages the zone well, making him a difficult player to strike out. He shows above-average on-base abilities and works deep into counts. He's a highly skilled hitter who consistently takes professional at-bats. The questions around Wagner's bat center on his lack of power projection. He's fairly close to physical max with a setup that isn't conducive for much juice. The Astros have had success coaxing more power out of their prospects, however, so Wagner's progress in that department is worth watching. Wagner is a below-average runner who lacks range in the infield. He is a smart defender with good actions who profiles best at second base, where his average arm won't be as taxed as it is at third.
  
  The Future: Wagner is a bat-first utility type with the upside to grow into second-division regular status if he discovers average game power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 45.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The son of former all-star closer Billy Wagner, the younger Wagner was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference first-team selection who hit .305/.377/.462 over three seasons with Liberty. The Astros drafted Wagner in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and signed him for $50,000. He got his first pro experience at Low-A Fayetteville and split his 2022 season between High-A and Double-A. Wagner starred in the Arizona Fall League after the season, hitting .346/.433/.712 with three home runs over 14 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Wagner has a hit-over-power profile but started to show more thump in the season and into the fall. He makes contact at above-average rate and manages the zone well, making him a difficult player to strike out. He shows above-average on-base abilities and works deep into counts. He's a highly skilled hitter who consistently takes professional at-bats. The questions around Wagner's bat center on his lack of power projection. He's fairly close to physical max with a setup that isn't conducive for much juice. The Astros have had success coaxing more power out of their prospects, however, so Wagner's progress in that department is worth watching. Wagner is a below-average runner who lacks range in the infield. He is a smart defender with good actions who profiles best at second base, where his average arm won't be as taxed as it is at third.
  
  The Future: Wagner is a bat-first utility type with the upside to grow into second-division regular status if he discovers average game power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 45.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The son of former major league star Billy Wagner, Will is a two-time ASUN Conference first-teamer. He hit .305/.377/.462 over three full seasons with Liberty. He was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and debuted in Low-A, hitting .299/.388/.436 over 31 games. He was assigned to High-A Asheville out of spring training.
  
  Scouting Report: An excellent college hitter who was lauded for his feel to hit and advanced understanding of the strike zone, Wagner has been one of the best hitters in the lower minors in the early part of 2022. His combination of plus bat-to-ball skills, a discerning eye at the plate and average impact have translated to results. Wagner is hardly ever fooled, rarely swings and misses and is one of the harder outs in the South Atlantic League at the moment. Defensively, he&#39s a bit of a tweener who has logged time at both second and third base.
  
  The Future: Wagner will go as far as the bat can carry him. While there&#39s little question he&#39s beaten up on less advanced pitching early in his professional career, his combination of contact, on-base skills and average power gives him an exciting skill set.