Max Wagner

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #15 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Wagner began his 2022 sophomore season at Clemson on the bench but ended it with 27 home runs and Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year honors. The Orioles capitalized on his draft-eligible status to sign him for $1.9 million in the second round. Wagner showed an ability to control the strike zone and make solid contact for most of the year at High-A Aberdeen in 2023 before a late-season promotion to Double-A Bowie. He had left hamate surgery after the season but should be ready for spring training.
  
  Scouting Report: Wagner made significant gains in his top-end exit velocities in 2023, going from a 90th percentile EV of 101 mph in 2022 to 104 mph in 2023, but he did so with a slightly worse than expected contact rate and contact quality as he adjusted to higher-level pitching and spin. Wagner maintains a short, quick swing and can be an average hitter with a more consistent barrel path. He could have at least average power with those improvements, as his attractive EVs demonstrate. He is at least an above-average defender at third base with consistent movements and actions at the position, and he profiles well at second base as well. Wagner is also a heady basestealer despite average speed.
  
  The Future: There was nothing remarkable about Wagner’s full-season debut, though he remains a potential second-division regular or platoon player due to his steady offensive profile and defensive versatility. He’ll start 2024 back at Double-A Bowie, with the potential to reach Triple-A at age 22.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Wagner saw limited action as a freshman at Clemson and wasn't even projected to be a starter as a sophomore. He hit his way into their third base job early, and finished as the ACC Player of the Year with the nation's second-highest slugging percentage (.852) and tied for third in the country with 27 home runs. The Orioles took him 42nd overall as a draft-eligible sophomore and signed him for $1.9 million. He finished his season in the playoffs with High-A Aberdeen.
  
  Scouting Report: The club believed at draft time that Wagner had consistently strong at-bats to help get to his power, which they believe can be above-average to pair a potential average hit tool. He drove the ball consistently to all fields in college, and found that more challenging to do against higher-level pitching in pro ball. The expectation is Wagner is fundamentally sound enough to identify and get his barrel on pitches he can drive, even if his limited college experience might mean it takes time. Wagner is a physical player with a solid-average arm and actions at third base, with no reason to move him from there or obvious alternatives if that was required.
  
  The Future: Wagner will need to slug the way he did at Clemson to justify an everyday role in the big leagues, but a fringe-average starter or bench role seems realistic at this early stage. He'll start back at Aberdeen in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #70 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Clemson Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 20.9
  BA Grade: 45/High
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
  One of the most prominent college risers during the 2022 season, Wagner began the year as a defensive replacement for Clemson, but quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and hit .370/.496/.852 with 27 home runs and 15 doubles en route to being named the ACC player of the year. Wagner struggled offensively in 2021 (.214/.305/.345), with plenty of swing and miss, but he improved his approach—11 BB% to 17 BB%—and a mechanical tweak seemingly unlocked his plus raw power. He gets started with a stance that’s more upright and open than it was in 2021 and has done a better job keeping his hands quiet throughout his load, with what looks like a slightly steeper bat path that has helped him get the ball in the air more frequently. He has made more contact this spring, particularly against secondaries, and has hammered 93-plus mph fastballs. A 6-foot, 200-pound third baseman, Wagner should be able to stick at the position with solid arm strength and hands, but he doesn’t jump off the diamond in terms of tools. Without much track record prior to 2022, Wagner is bound to be a polarizing prospect, but for those who buy into his hitting ability and power, he has a chance to be selected among the first two rounds.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Wagner saw limited action as a freshman at Clemson and wasn't even projected to be a starter as a sophomore. He hit his way into their third base job early, and finished as the ACC Player of the Year with the nation's second-highest slugging percentage (.852) and tied for third in the country with 27 home runs. The Orioles took him 42nd overall as a draft-eligible sophomore and signed him for $1.9 million. He finished his season in the playoffs with High-A Aberdeen.
  
  Scouting Report: The club believed at draft time that Wagner had consistently strong at-bats to help get to his power, which they believe can be above-average to pair a potential average hit tool. He drove the ball consistently to all fields in college, and found that more challenging to do against higher-level pitching in pro ball. The expectation is Wagner is fundamentally sound enough to identify and get his barrel on pitches he can drive, even if his limited college experience might mean it takes time. Wagner is a physical player with a solid-average arm and actions at third base, with no reason to move him from there or obvious alternatives if that was required.
  
  The Future: Wagner will need to slug the way he did at Clemson to justify an everyday role in the big leagues, but a fringe-average starter or bench role seems realistic at this early stage. He'll start back at Aberdeen in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Wagner saw limited action as a freshman at Clemson and wasn't even projected to be a starter as a sophomore. He hit his way into their third base job early, and finished as the ACC Player of the Year with the nation's second-highest slugging percentage (.852) and tied for third in the country with 27 home runs. The Orioles took him 42nd overall as a draft-eligible sophomore and signed him for $1.9 million. He finished his season in the playoffs with High-A Aberdeen.
  
  Scouting Report: The club believed at draft time that Wagner had consistently strong at-bats to help get to his power, which they believe can be above-average to pair a potential average hit tool. He drove the ball consistently to all fields in college, and found that more challenging to do against higher-level pitching in pro ball. The expectation is Wagner is fundamentally sound enough to identify and get his barrel on pitches he can drive, even if his limited college experience might mean it takes time. Wagner is a physical player with a solid-average arm and actions at third base, with no reason to move him from there or obvious alternatives if that was required.
  
  The Future: Wagner will need to slug the way he did at Clemson to justify an everyday role in the big leagues, but a fringe-average starter or bench role seems realistic at this early stage. He'll start back at Aberdeen in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  August Update: One of the most prominent college risers during the 2022 season, Wagner began the year as a defensive replacement for Clemson, but quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and hit .370/.496/.852 with 27 home runs and 15 doubles en route to being named the ACC player of the year. Wagner struggled offensively in 2021 (.214/.305/.345), with plenty of swing and miss, but he improved his approach—11 BB% to 17 BB%—and a mechanical tweak seemingly unlocked his plus raw power. He gets started with a stance that&#39s more upright and open than it was in 2021 and has done a better job keeping his hands quiet throughout his load, with what looks like a slightly steeper bat path that has helped him get the ball in the air more frequently. He has made more contact this spring, particularly against secondaries, and has hammered 93-plus mph fastballs. A 6-foot, 200-pound third baseman, Wagner should be able to stick at the position with solid arm strength and hands, but he doesn&#39t jump off the diamond in terms of tools. Without much track record prior to 2022, Wagner is bound to be a polarizing prospect, but for those who buy into his hitting ability and power, he has a chance to be a legitimate bat-first prospect. He was selected by the Orioles in the second round and signed for $1,900,000.