From Angels fan to Angel, Wagaman gets first hit
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ANAHEIM -- Growing up in Aliso Viejo, Calif., just 20 miles south of Anaheim, Eric Wagaman was an avid Angels fan, counting scrappy infielders David Eckstein and Chone Figgins as his favorite players.
So it was extra meaningful for Wagaman to make his Major League debut with his hometown club on Tuesday after a lengthy Minor League career. And it was even better on Saturday night, when Wagaman connected on his career first hit, an RBI double off presumptive Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in a 5-3 loss to the Astros at Angel Stadium.
Wagaman started his big league career going 0-for-9, including a deep flyout to left field in his first at-bat against Verlander. But with Logan O’Hoppe on second base and one out in the fourth, Wagaman hit a 2-1 curveball down the left-field line to record his first hit, which came in front of roughly 25 family members and friends at the game, including his parents, Julie and Jim.
“It's definitely pretty special, especially because of all the family and friends that I have here tonight,” Wagaman said. “It felt good to get the first one out of the way. I feel like I've taken a couple good swings and they haven't fallen, but it's part of the game.”
Wagaman’s mother, Julie, said she had a feeling that the hit was coming. But she said it still felt like a dream when it happened and she felt speechless watching it unfold.
“It was insane,” Julie Wagaman said. “I don't know what else to say. I knew it was going to happen. It was a beautiful hit. And there's a guy on base, so he got an RBI double. And off Verlander. I mean, are you kidding me?
"I don’t know what else to say, it was just epic and beautiful, and I knew he could do it.”
It was a long road to the Majors for Wagaman, who prepped at Aliso Niguel High School before excelling in his lone season at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., under the tutelage of the late John Altobelli.
The Yankees took him in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and he played six seasons in their organization, reaching as high as Double-A. But New York left him exposed in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and the Angels selected him to add to their corner infield depth.
Wagaman said he received several messages from family and friends once they found out he was joining the Angels’ organization because they knew how much it meant to him.
“That was pretty cool,” Wagaman said. “I grew up an Angels fan, so as soon as that happened, it was kind of the same deal, like a lot of people reached out. I was excited. I went to a ton of games growing up, and I had a lot of favorite players on the team.”
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder had a strong year at Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake, posting a combined slash line of .274/.339/.469 with 17 homers, 28 doubles and 60 RBIs in 121 games. It earned him a callup to the Majors for the Angels’ series in Minnesota this week. He got his feet wet there, serving as a pinch-hitter in his debut and getting his first start at third base on Wednesday.
He made his home debut on Friday, going 0-for-4 but did have a ball that left his bat at 111.5 mph that was hit right at shortstop Jeremy Pena for a lineout. He made the most of his second chance on Saturday and said it meant even more that his first hit came against Verlander. Wagaman also lined out to deep right field in his final at-bat in the ninth.
"It's definitely extra special,” said Wagaman, who is hoping to get the ball signed by Verlander. “I mean, the guy's a future Hall of Famer. The stuff he's done in this game is incredible. It seems like year after year he just gets it done.”
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Wagaman, 27, said he always kept the faith that he would reach the Majors despite racking up more than 2,000 career plate appearances in the Minors. His passion for the game never waned.
“I love playing baseball,” Wagaman said. “So it never felt like a long time. Every year, I really enjoyed going out there and playing. So it never felt like it was taking a toll, or just like it was a grind, or anything like that. I really do enjoy being here. So it just, I don't know, kind of flew by, honestly.”