Will Wagner, son of All-Star closer, enjoys big MLB debut for Blue Jays

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Once he finally secured tickets for his famous father, Will Wagner had a major league debut to remember.

The son of former All-Star reliever Billy Wagner got hits in his first three at-bats to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Monday night.

“Just growing up in big league clubhouses, I kind of know what to expect,” the younger Wagner said. “It was a nerve-wracking day for sure, but once you get that first at-bat out of the way, it’s all good.”

Toronto acquired the infielder on his 26th birthday in the July 29 trade that sent pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, where Wagner's dad spent the first nine of his 16 big league seasons.

Will Wagner was called up Monday from Triple-A Buffalo and started at second base against the Angels, batting sixth. He laced the first pitch he saw into the right-center gap for a second-inning double and finished 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run.

“I was nervous on the on-deck circle but once I was walking to the plate, I just started to gain a little bit more confidence,” Wagner said. “Just go up there and know I’m here for a reason, and I was just trying to be aggressive.”

His only misstep was forgetting at first to leave tickets for his fiancé and his father.

“My dad texted me and was like, ‘Hey, we still can’t get in,’” Will Wagner said. “I was like, ‘Oh gosh, I’ve got to get them tickets.’ But we got it all figured out.”

Billy Wagner made it to the ballpark following a whirlwind journey that first had him in Buffalo last weekend to watch his son play. After flying home to Virginia on Sunday, he learned of Will's promotion and boarded a plane for California.

The seven-time All-Star, a member of the Astros Hall of Fame, was quick to offer advice for the big day.

“He just said to relax and be present and have fun with everything,” Will Wagner said. “It’s just a game and have fun.”

Wagner singled with two outs in a four-run third for his first career RBI and rolled another single into right field in the fifth. All three hits to begin his career came against right-hander Davis Daniel.

Wagner became the fourth player in Blue Jays history to have three hits in his major league debut. He finally made his first out on a fly to center in the seventh.

“It’s pretty cool when you have a debut like that. It kind of gives guys some energy,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.

Wagner is primarily a second baseman, with experience at first and third. He's known as a line-drive hitter, with 25 home runs in 290 minor league games.

“Everyone, when they talk about him they say, ‘OK, he’s just a baseball player,’ and those guys usually find their way to do pretty well,” Schneider said. “A lot of contact, hits the ball hard, really smart in-game decisions.”

Schneider plans to use Wagner primarily at second base, with some opportunities to play third, and have him in the lineup regularly for the remainder of the season.

To make room on the roster, the last-place Blue Jays optioned infielder Luis De Los Santos to Buffalo.

The move was made after Wagner played just seven games at Buffalo following the trade from Houston. In 77 combined games at Triple-A for Sugar Land and Buffalo, he batted .315 with six home runs and 43 RBIs.

“When I was at Houston, in big league camp, we had (Alex) Bregman, (Jeremy) Peña and (Jose) Altuve and I would talk to them every day,” Will Wagner said. “And I was like, ‘These guys are going to be Hall of Famers.’ Now I’m here and I have (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and Bo (Bichette) to talk to, too. And there is a mix of guys who are younger that I can fit in with, too. So I’m excited.”

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Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner, right, takes a lead at second base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner makes a play at second base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner, right, runs to first after hitting an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner, right, hits an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner runs to first after hitting an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner, right, runs to first after hitting an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country's budget.

The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds.

Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business. The new government enters office after months of political deadlock and crisis and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s colossal debt.

Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027, but has struggled to govern since snap elections in the summer left no single party with a majority in the National Assembly. Since his appointment 10 days ago, Bayrou has held talks with political leaders from various parties in search of the right balance for the new government.

Some critics on Monday were angry at Bayrou for consulting with Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, and some argue the government looks too much like the old one to win lawmakers’ trust.

Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned this month following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government. Le Pen played a key role in Barnier’s downfall by joining her National Rally party’s forces with the left to pass the no-confidence motion.

Bayrou will need support from moderate legislators on the right and left to keep his government alive.

Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfill its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a Socialist finance minister in the 1990s.

Bayrou has said he supports tax hikes championed by his predecessor, but it’s not clear how the new government can find the right calculation for a budget that satisfies a majority of lawmakers angry over spending cuts.

Hard-right Bruno Retailleau stays on as interior minister, with responsibility for France’s security and migration policy. Sebastien Lecornu, who has been at the forefront of France’s military support for Ukraine, remains defense minister, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who has traveled extensively in the Mideast in recent weeks, also retains his post.

Among new faces are two former prime ministers. Manuel Valls will be minister for overseas affairs, and Elisabeth Borne takes the education ministry.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou arrives for a meeting at a crisis centre at the Interior Ministry in Paris, Monday Dec. 23, 2024, following the cyclone Chido's passage over the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country's budget. (Julien de Rosa, Pool via AP)

FILE - French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledges members of foreign police forces that help with the security of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

FILE - Former Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls attends a tribute to the late journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach in France Televisions headquarters in Paris, Monday, Oct.9 2023. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Outgoing French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne looks up after the handover ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

FILE - French centrist presidential election candidate Emmanuel Macron, left, waves supporters as French centrist politician Francois Bayrou looks on during a meeting in Pau, southwestern France, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Bob Edme, File)

Alexis Kohler, Secretary-General of the Elysee Palace, announces the names of the ministers of the new cabinet, in the Elysee Palace, Monday, Dec 23, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced a new government, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over France's budget. (Saboor Abdul/Pool via AP)