No glamour in being a closer

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Being a closer in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League isn't the same glamorous job that it is in the major leagues, or even college for that matter.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers closer, right-handed pitcher Neil Wagner, is still making the most of a tough situation this year.
The 6-foot, 190-pound, 22-year-old from Eden Prairie, Minn., has pitched in 12 games this season and has seven saves, third best in the New York-Penn League in 151/3 innings.
"Being the closer here means that you pitch when it's your turn to pitch in the rotation, whether the game's on the line or not," Wagner said.
When you think of a closer you think of him coming in the bottom of the ninth trying to protect a 1-run lead for his team.
"Those situations are nice and they've happened a few times here this year and those are a lot of fun to pitch in," Wagner said. "But there are also times, like [Saturday] night when you come in and the team's trailing by six runs and that's not a lot of fun, but it's part of the process."
Drafted in 2005
Wagner was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2005, but because he was recovering from injuries elected not to sign and played in a wooden bat summer league in North Dakota.
The 2005 graduate of North Dakota State signed this year with the Tribe and was assigned to Mahoning Valley.
North Dakota State isn't exactly the baseball capital of the country, but Wagner enjoyed his time there.
"I had a few Division I scholarships floating around, but then I went to visit North Dakota State and fell in love with the place. They had just built a new $5 million stadium and I really enjoyed playing there, although there were some cold days we played there."
Wagner has been a closer since his high school days.
"I started a few games, but mostly I was used in a closer's role and that continued right on through college," he said.
Scrappers manager Rouglas Odor said that Wagner has a "closer's mentality."
"You just look at him when he goes out there and no matter what the situation, he's in control," Odor said. "He'll challenge a hitter no matter what the situation is."
Likes crunch time
Wagner says that he loves to pitch in the pressure situations.
"That's what it's all about, coming out with the game on the line. I just love that," he added.
His bread-and-butter pitch is his fastball, which has been clocked at 96 mph.
"I've been working on a couple of other pitches, but mainly I'll rely on the fastball," Wagner said. "The main thing is to come into those situations and be able to throw strikes.
"This is a pretty good team and we all seem to get along very well, but at this level of play things can change very quickly with roster moves," he said.
Wagner said he's like everybody else and looking to advance in the Indians organization.
"Everybody wants to move up and after the early success I've had here I would hope that if things continue this way that I'll advance this season," he said.
The Scrappers were off Monday and will open a three-game series in Brooklyn, N.Y. tonight at 7:05. They'll also play a three-game series in Batavia, N.Y. before returning home on July 31 to meet the Muckdogs in a three-game series at Eastwood Field.
mollica@vindy.com