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SALT LAKE CITY — As the Reno Aces team landed in Salt Lake City, former Utes closer and current Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand Tyler Wagner experienced a flashback.
“It all started when we landed and I saw the mountains, familiar settings and scenery around,” said Wagner, standing in a hallway at Smith’s Ballpark before the Aces began a four-game series with the Bees Friday. “Then driving to the hotel and stuff — I recognize everything. And obviously coming to park (Friday).”
In fact, Wagner returned to the ballpark for the first time as a professional to the same clubhouse and dugout he’d spent time in with the Utes as the university and the Bees would share the ballpark every so often. However, his time with the Utes is the flashback that has helped him the most in the majors this season.
The righty was selected out of Utah by Milwaukee in the fourth round of the 2012 draft and after signing, the Brewers almost immediately flipped him to a starting pitcher. Heading into this season, he had made just three relief appearances in four years as a professional. He even made three starts with the Brewers last season, breaking into the majors and was among the club’s top prospects after two strong seasons in the minors.
When the Brewers traded Wagner to Arizona in January, Arizona kept him as a starter with Reno to begin this season. However, when the Diamondbacks recalled him on April 18, he was placed in the bullpen for the first time since 2013 — but mostly for the first time since pitching for the Utes in 2012.
“I definitely had flashes back to the times I was closing here at Utah — just the adrenaline and having 12 pitches to be ready to get in relief is a feeling I haven’t had since I (was) back at Utah,” Wagner said. “It was a familiar feeling, but I hadn’t experienced that in four years. … It was nice to have that feeling back.”
On April 21, he scattered just two hits in five scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first career MLB win as the Diamondbacks defeated San Francisco 6-2.
Afterward, he posted a photo to social media of the team’s lineup card that day and a game ball he kept as a souvenir of the moment.
Though Wagner said pitching in relief is completely different in many ways, such as having minutes to prepare as compared to four days of rest, he said returning to the bullpen gave him an edge he hadn't experienced in some time.
“I think it was good for me to not be able to take days off mentally and physically and have to be prepared to pitch every day,” he said. “I thought it helped me.”
Wagner, who struggled with a 0-2 record and 7.24 ERA in his three 2015 big league starts, has pitched well in three extended-inning relief appearances for the Diamondbacks this season. He posted a 1.80 ERA with nine hits and two walks allowed, and seven strikeouts in 10 innings before the team optioned him back to Reno on April 25.
He’s also 1-3 with a 2.91 ERA in four starts with the Aces this season. Whether Wagner returns to Arizona as a starter or reliever, his first Diamondbacks stint has given him confidence for the future.
“It was a good opportunity for me to get up there and show them what I’m capable of and what they traded for,” he said.
