Eric Wagaman Bio
Eric Wagaman, born on August 14, 1997, is an American professional baseball utility player for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). A versatile infielder and outfielder, he has spent time in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, the Miami Marlins, and the Mets. Wagaman has built his career on positional flexibility, contact hitting, and steady progression through the minor leagues since being drafted in 2017.
Wagaman’s professional journey reflects patience and perseverance. After several seasons in the New York Yankees farm system, he reached the majors in 2024 with the Angels and has since bounced between organizations, carving out a role as a dependable utility option. His path has included stints in multiple minor league affiliates, two major league debuts within the same offseason, and an ongoing effort to establish himself as a long-term contributor at the highest level.
Early Life and Background
Eric Wagaman was born on August 14, 1997, and grew up in the United States. From a young age, he developed a passion for baseball, working through amateur ranks to attract attention from professional scouts. His commitment to the sport led him to the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, where the New York Yankees selected him in the 13th round with the 392nd overall pick.
Coming out of his amateur career, Wagaman was regarded as a projectable position player with a strong throwing arm and the ability to play multiple positions. That versatility would become a defining feature of his professional profile. His background prepared him for the long minor league grind that follows most late-round draft picks.
Path to Baseball
After being drafted by the Yankees in 2017, Wagaman made his professional debut with the rookie-level Pulaski Yankees. In 2018, he advanced to the Low-A Staten Island Yankees, where he played 64 games and posted a .194/.244/.333 slash line with five home runs and 18 runs batted in (RBI). Those numbers were modest, but the experience allowed him to adjust to professional pitching.
In 2019, Wagaman split his season between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees and the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, hitting .233/.293/.342 with seven home runs and 41 RBI across 88 games. The 2020 season wiped out his development when the minor league campaign was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing him to wait a full year before returning to the field.
Wagaman came back strong in 2021, playing for the Single-A Tampa Tarpons and the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades. Across 78 games, he batted .220/.315/.364 with six home runs and 34 RBI. By 2022, he was splitting time between Hudson Valley and the Double-A Somerset Patriots, posting a .258/.346/.468 line with a career-high 13 home runs and 32 RBI in 69 games. In 2023, a shortened campaign at Somerset saw him slash .320/.382/.500 with five home runs, 16 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 120 at-bats, signaling that a major league opportunity might be approaching.
Eric Wagaman Career
Early Career (2017–2023)
Wagaman’s early professional years were spent entirely within the New York Yankees organization. Across rookie ball, Low-A, High-A, and Double-A, he steadily refined his approach at the plate while continuing to log innings at third base, first base, and the outfield. His 2022 campaign at Hudson Valley and Somerset represented his first real power breakout, with 13 home runs in 69 games.
The 2023 season, though limited to 35 games at Somerset, was arguably his most productive stretch in the minors. Wagaman batted .320 and added 13 stolen bases, showcasing a more complete offensive game. Despite that progress, he was passed over in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft by the Yankees, opening the door for his departure from the organization.
Los Angeles Angels (2024)
On December 6, 2023, Wagaman was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He split 2024 between the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, playing 121 games and slashing .274/.339/.469 with 17 home runs, 60 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Defensively, he logged 42 games in the outfield, 29 at third base, and 17 at first base, reinforcing his utility profile.
On September 10, 2024, Wagaman was added to the Angels’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In 18 games during his rookie big-league campaign, he slashed .250/.270/.403 with two home runs and 10 RBI, playing 17 games at third base and one in left field. His time in Anaheim ended quickly, however, as he was designated for assignment on November 19, 2024, and non-tendered three days later, making him a free agent.
Miami Marlins (2025)
On December 20, 2024, Wagaman signed a one-year, major league contract with the Miami Marlins. He appeared in 140 games for Miami during the 2025 season, batting .250/.296/.378 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and four stolen bases. His versatility allowed the Marlins to deploy him at multiple positions throughout the year.
Wagaman’s tenure in Miami ended on December 29, 2025, when he was designated for assignment following the team’s acquisition of outfielder Esteury Ruiz. The transaction reflected the Marlins’ ongoing roster reshaping rather than any specific shortcoming in his play, and Wagaman quickly became one of the most experienced utility bats available on the market.
Minnesota Twins and New York Mets (2026)
On January 2, 2026, Wagaman was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Kade Bragg. He was optioned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints to begin the regular season, where he played 18 games and slashed .159/.284/.254 with one home run, six RBI, and one stolen base. On April 23, the Twins designated him for assignment, ending his brief stint in the organization.
On April 27, 2026, Wagaman was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. After two appearances with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, in which he went 3-for-5 with five RBI, he was designated for assignment on May 3, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Syracuse on May 10. The Mets recalled him on May 26, and on May 27, Wagaman hit a home run in his first at-bat for New York against Cincinnati Reds starter Andrew Abbott, a 4-2 win that marked a memorable major league debut for the team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wagaman’s value comes from his positional flexibility, with extensive experience at third base, first base, and the outfield. Offensively, he has shown the ability to make contact and contribute extra-base hits, with his best minor league power season coming in 2022 (13 home runs) and 2024 (17 home runs). He has also demonstrated a willingness to run the bases, swiping double-digit bags in 2022 and 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wagaman’s most celebrated moment came on May 27, 2026, when he homered in his first at-bat as a member of the New York Mets, helping the team to a 4-2 victory over the Reds. He also reached the major leagues for the first time on September 10, 2024, with the Angels, and signed his first major league free-agent contract with the Marlins on December 20, 2024.
Eric Wagaman Family
Personal Life
Eric Wagaman keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. Born in 1997, he has spent his adult years focused on a professional baseball career that has taken him across multiple organizations and cities. No public information regarding a spouse, children, or detailed family background is available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Eric Wagaman’s 2025 season was his most extensive major league campaign to date, playing 140 games for the Miami Marlins. He finished the year batting .250 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and four stolen bases, providing steady contact and occasional power from a utility role. Defensively, he continued to split time between multiple positions, giving the Marlins valuable roster flexibility.
The season ended abruptly on December 29, 2025, when Wagaman was designated for assignment following the team’s acquisition of Esteury Ruiz. Despite the abrupt conclusion, his 140-game workload demonstrated that he could handle a full major league season. Entering 2026, he remained a free agent until traded to the Minnesota Twins in early January, beginning another chapter in his journeyman career.
