Wagner Will Take Next Step In Helena Brewers Draft Pick Hopes To Continue Improvement

One rung at a time, Colstrip native Frank Wagner has climbed his way from Little League to professional rookie-league baseball as a member of Helena Brewers.

“I was drafted in June by the (Milwaukee) Brewers and they told me I would be going to Helena to play,” Wagner said. “I had to stop and think for a second. I totally forgot there was a team in Helena.”

Wagner became known to Helena fans through his stellar play with the American Legion Miles City Mavericks. During his last year Wagner was widely regarded as an outstanding right fielder and considered by most Legion baseball fans to be the best hitter and pitcher in the state.

“When I was old enough to play Legion ball, Colstrip no longer had a team,” Wagner said. “So, we drove every day from Colstrip to Miles City.”

The 160 miles on the road each day and the fact that all the travel was taking away time that Wagner felt he needed for baseball caused him to move to Miles City.

“Doctor Rauh offered to let me move in and so I lived there for two years and graduated from high school in Miles City,” Wagner said. “Going out of my high school and making that move was hard, but I knew to get to the next level I would have to be there. It paid off though, with a scholarship.”

The University of Minnesota recruited Wagner, and he spent the past three years attending classes at UM and playing baseball for the Golden Gophers. Despite his prowess as a hitter, the Gophers felt Wagner’s greatest talent was throwing a baseball and for three years, Frank concentrated on making opposing batters look bad.

“At first I missed not hitting, but not for long,” Wagner said. “Minnesota picked me up as a pitcher. They said they liked my competitiveness and arm strength. It didn’t take long and I got more into pitching.

“Besides, I saw how great some of the hitters were. Only a few guys try to do both hitting and pitching. It takes so much time to do just one. The guys who do both usually wind up falling behind in class and I didn’t want that to happen to me.”

Wagner said he enjoyed his time at UM and that the change to the big city was exciting.

“I liked the change, being from a small town,” Wagner said. “At first, I was lost in the crowd. Classes had like 500 people in them. It didn’t take long to get used to it.”

Wagner said he got three or four starts as a pitcher his freshman year and then was used as a middle-inning reliever and finally as a closer during his sophomore and junior years.

“We won the Big 10 my sophomore year and as a junior we finished second,” Wagner said. “This year, we lost to Baylor in the final game of regionals.”

On June 2, the Brewers drafted Wagner as a pitcher and he made the decision to forgo his final year of college and turn pro. On June 12, Wagner arrived in Helena.

“I liked Minnesota but I just felt that it was time to get on with the next chapter of my life,” he said. “I’m only 10 or 15 credits short of graduation, so I can go back and get my degree. Right now, I think this is what’s best for me.”

Helena Brewers pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein said that what he has seen from Wagner so far, he likes.

“He’s got good life on his fastball,” Lichtenstein said. “Wag’s got a real good curve. We need to work on his change-up. As a closer at Minnesota, he didn’t need to use the change much but we’ll work that out. I think he’s going to help the team a lot.”

Lichtenstein said that since it had been a month since Wagner had competed in college, he was going to work the 6-foot-2, 225-pound left-handed Wagner into the bullpen slowly.

“There’s no rush,” Lichtenstein said.

“When he’s ready we’ll make him available in the bullpen. Frank will probably get his first chance in the sixth, seventh or eighth inning in a relaxed atmosphere. His first outing will be so he can get some rhythm.”

Wagner said another reason he’s glad to be in Helena is because it gives his family an opportunity to see him play.

“My family only got to see me in three games at Minnesota,” Wagner said. “Now, they’ll get to see me much more often. That’s important to me.”

This season with the Brewers Wagner said he just wants to make progress as a pitcher and help the team.

“I know it’s a business but right now I’m having fun,” Wagner said. “I’ll play where ever they stick me.”