Billy Wagner

About Billy Wagner

William "Billy" Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971 in Tannersville, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball closer for the New York Mets. Previously, Wagner pitched for the Houston Astros (1995-2003) and the Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005). He bats and throws left-handed.

As a youth, Wagner was a natural right-handed pitcher, but after breaking his throwing arm twice, he taught himself how to use his left arm by throwing nothing but fastballs against a barn wall. He graduated from Tazewell High School, where he was named the 1990 Baseball Player of the Year. He also attended Ferrum College in Virginia and went 16-4 there, while setting single season NCAA records for strikeouts per nine innings (19.1 in 1992) and fewest hits per nine innings allowed (1.88 in 1992), and holds the Division III mark for career strikeouts (227 in 182.1 innings pitched). Wagner was inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in Salem, Virginia, in February 2003.

Wagner was selected in the first round of the June 1993 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros, and was used exclusively as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1995, retiring the only batter he faced in a 10-5 defeat against the Mets. It was his only appearance during that season.