Pitcher Neil Wagner Signs With Cleveland Indians Organization
8/30/2005 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
MANKATO, Minn.--North Dakota State pitcher Neil Wagner has signed a professional contract to play baseball with the Cleveland Indians.
Wagner, who was drafted in the 21st round (634th overall) of last June's amateur draft, played the entire summer with the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League.
He set a club record for single-season saves with 13, picked up one win, and had a 2.10 ERA. He fanned 43 batters in 30 innings of work, with his fastball topping out in the mid-90s, and held opposing hitters to a .156 average.
Wagner will report to the Indians' instructional league in Winter Haven, Fla., on Sept. 20. The league will last approximately one month and will include training and game play with other instructional teams.
“It feels real good to know where I am going to be playing ball next year. It was up in the air whether I was going to be playing at NDSU or with the Indians, but I'm excited to play,” Wagner said.
Wagner was given three options upon selection in the June draft. He could sign immediately, play with the MoonDogs and then sign, or return to North Dakota State for his senior year and re-enter the draft pool next summer.
A two-time Northwoods League All-Star, Wagner was 11-4 with a 4.70 ERA in three years at North Dakota State. He struck out 120 batters in 105 1/3 innings and set school records for career saves (18), single-season saves (12 in 2004), and single-season appearances (28 in 2004).
Wagner's Career Statistics at North Dakota State
Year ERA W-L App GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2003.... 4.94 4-2 13 3 0 0/2 3 31.0 25 20 17 27 26
2004.... 1.40 6-0 28 0 0 0/1 12 38.2 25 8 6 16 59
2005.... 8.07 1-2 22 3 0 0/0 3 35.2 35 33 32 30 35
TOTAL... 4.70 11-4 63 6 0 0/3 18 105.1 85 61 55 73 120
Wagner is the fifth major league draft pick out of North Dakota State and the first since catcher Tony Richards went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round in 1998.
| NDSU'S MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT PICKS | |||||
| Player | Year | Order | Round | Overall | Club |
| John Renhowe | 1968 | 2nd | 28th | 621st | Oakland |
| Don (Chip) Devlin | 1983 | 17th | 4th | 95th | Chicago (AL) |
| Mike Gunderson | 1994 | 17th | 5th | 136th | Houston |
| Tony Richards | 1998 | 23rd | 18th | 546th | Los Angeles (NL) |
| Neil Wagner | 2005 | 14th | 21st | 634th | Cleveland |
