In the 2013 MLB draft, former Monte Vista mustang Joey Wagman was selected in the seventeenth round by the Chicago White Sox.

Wagman started his road to glory while playing ball here at Monte Vista. He was a part of the 2009 class that went on to put 3 players in the draft. He didn’t pitch as many innings in High School as one would guess, but that didn’t deter him.

Wagman went on to play at Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, and eventually became the ace of the staff. He would do great things as a senior, and even became the Cal Poly record holder for single season wins with 13.

Following with this success, Wagman entered the Major League draft hoping he would be selected by an organization. But instead of sitting in front of a screen waiting, Wagman had a different idea of how he should kill time.

“I went to the field with him (his dad) and we have a little workout room there so I worked out for a little bit just trying to keep my mind off of it,” Wagman said. It was there at the field however where he would hear the news of a life time.

“All of a sudden I got two text messages from my teammate and his girlfriend,” Wagman said. “They said congratulations but I had no idea what was going on”.

It was after this that Wagman had heard the news from family and friends that he had been selected by the White Sox. It was for him a life dream that he had been able to reach.

“This is what I’ve worked towards and what I’ve always wanted to do since I can remember,” Wagman said. “I’ve always loved baseball and know its what I get to do for a living”.

Although the excitement and joy were there, it was off to a less glamorous, rigorous road, the Minor Leagues. The White Sox organization sent Wagman to their Minor League affiliate in Great Falls, Montana where his professional career would begin.

Wagman reported in June and got to play three months of professional ball. He finished his shortened season with 16 appearances, a record of one and zero, and an earned run average of 3.57. Not bad for a kid straight out of college.

Only time will tell how the rest of his career unfolds, but this Mustang will just be enjoying the ride.