Héctor Wagner
Encyclopedia
Héctor Raul Guerrero Wagner (born November 26, 1968 in San Juan de la Maguana
, Dominican Republic
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Kansas City Royals
from 1990 to 1991.
Wagner originally signed with the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent on May 13, 1986. He began his professional career the following year, 1987, as a member of the Royals' rookie minor league team, the GCL Royals. He pitched in 13 games that season, starting 12 of them, and had a win-loss record of 1-3 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.06. The following season, Wagner was promoted to the Eugene Emeralds
of the Northwest League
. He pitched a no-hitter
through seven innings in a match against the Spokane Indians
on August 14 in a 5-1 victory. He finished the season having pitched 15 games for the Emeralds, going 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA.
The Royals invited Wagner to spring training
to start the 1989 season, and although he did not make the final roster, the team noted that he had a shot to make the roster later that season. He spent the season with the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League
, where he pitched in 24 games, won 6 and lost 11, and finished the season with an ERA of 4.56.
Wagner spent the 1990 Kansas City Royals season
with the Memphis Chicks
, the Kansas City Royals' AA minor league affiliate. In 40 games, primarily as a relief pitcher
, he had a 12-4 record, a 2.02 ERA, and over 133 innings pitched
. In September, the Royals brought him to the major league roster, and he made his major league debut on September 10, 1990 against the Toronto Blue Jays
. Wagner pitched in five games for the Royals in 1990, losing two and finishing the season with an ERA of 8.10. He was the eighth youngest player in Major League Baseball that season.
As the 1991 Kansas City Royals season
began, Wagner was on the 40-man roster, and after participating in spring training with the team, he started the season with the Omaha Royals
, the AAA minor league affiliate. In late May, Royals' pitcher Mark Davis was placed on the disabled list, and Wagner was called up to the major league roster in his place. He made two starts for the Royals that season, winning one and losing one, and finishing with an ERA of 7.20. After the two appearances, he was sent back to Omaha, where he finished the season with a 5-6 record and a 3.44 ERA. In 1992, he was to pitch for the Royals, but needed rotator cuff
surgery and ended up missing the season.
After recovering from the surgery, Wagner split his time in 1993 between the Memphis Chicks and the Wilmington Blue Rocks
of the Royals minor league system. He pitched in ten games for Memphis, winning two and losing four, and he started 13 games with Wilmington, finishing the season with a 1-7 record and a 3.38 ERA. At the end of the season, the Royals released him, which ended his professional career for some time. He attempted a comeback in 1999 and 2001, playing for the Newark Bears
in the independent Atlantic League
. He pitched in 20 combined games those two seasons, then pitched in four games for the Pennsylvania Road Warriors
the following year, his last season in the minor leagues.
San Juan de la Maguana
San Juan de la Maguana is the capital city and the largest city in the province of San Juan and is the 10th largest city in the Dominican Republic.-References:...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
from 1990 to 1991.
Wagner originally signed with the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent on May 13, 1986. He began his professional career the following year, 1987, as a member of the Royals' rookie minor league team, the GCL Royals. He pitched in 13 games that season, starting 12 of them, and had a win-loss record of 1-3 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.06. The following season, Wagner was promoted to the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. He pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
through seven innings in a match against the Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
on August 14 in a 5-1 victory. He finished the season having pitched 15 games for the Emeralds, going 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA.
The Royals invited Wagner to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
to start the 1989 season, and although he did not make the final roster, the team noted that he had a shot to make the roster later that season. He spent the season with the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, where he pitched in 24 games, won 6 and lost 11, and finished the season with an ERA of 4.56.
Wagner spent the 1990 Kansas City Royals season
1990 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 6th in the American League West with a record of 75 wins and 86 losses.-Offseason:* December 5, 1989: Richard Dotson was signed as a free agent by the Royals....
with the Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
, the Kansas City Royals' AA minor league affiliate. In 40 games, primarily as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, he had a 12-4 record, a 2.02 ERA, and over 133 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. In September, the Royals brought him to the major league roster, and he made his major league debut on September 10, 1990 against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. Wagner pitched in five games for the Royals in 1990, losing two and finishing the season with an ERA of 8.10. He was the eighth youngest player in Major League Baseball that season.
As the 1991 Kansas City Royals season
1991 Kansas City Royals season
The 1991 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 6th in the American League West with a record of 82 wins and 80 losses.-Offseason:* October 4, 1990: Chris Codiroli was released by the Royals....
began, Wagner was on the 40-man roster, and after participating in spring training with the team, he started the season with the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, the AAA minor league affiliate. In late May, Royals' pitcher Mark Davis was placed on the disabled list, and Wagner was called up to the major league roster in his place. He made two starts for the Royals that season, winning one and losing one, and finishing with an ERA of 7.20. After the two appearances, he was sent back to Omaha, where he finished the season with a 5-6 record and a 3.44 ERA. In 1992, he was to pitch for the Royals, but needed rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
surgery and ended up missing the season.
After recovering from the surgery, Wagner split his time in 1993 between the Memphis Chicks and the Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
of the Royals minor league system. He pitched in ten games for Memphis, winning two and losing four, and he started 13 games with Wilmington, finishing the season with a 1-7 record and a 3.38 ERA. At the end of the season, the Royals released him, which ended his professional career for some time. He attempted a comeback in 1999 and 2001, playing for the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
in the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. He pitched in 20 combined games those two seasons, then pitched in four games for the Pennsylvania Road Warriors
Pennsylvania Road Warriors
The Pennsylvania Road Warriors is a team owned by the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. From the 2000 to the 2004 seasons as well as from 2006 to 2007, they played in the North Division of the Atlantic League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
the following year, his last season in the minor leagues.