Bison Athletic Hall of Fame
Neil Wagner
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 2005
Watch the 2026 Bison Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
First Major League Baseball player out of North Dakota State University...2004 ABCA All-Central Region relief pitcher...2004 All-North Central Conference and NCC All-Academic performer...Set NDSU records for saves in a season (12 in 2004) and career (18), appearances in a season (28 in 2004) and strikeouts per nine innings for a season (13.73 in 2004) and career (10.25)...Also set NCC single-season records for saves (9) and appearances (19) and the NCC career saves record (12)...Had an 11-4 record in 63 career appearances and struck out 120 batters in 105.1 innings...Dominated in NDSU’s final year of Division II play in 2004 with a 6-0 record, 12 saves and 1.40 ERA in 28 appearances striking out 59 against just 16 walks...Got seven of his nine outs by strikeout to earn the save in the 2004 NCC championship game...21st round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2005, the beginning of a 13-year career in professional baseball...First of only two Bison to reach the Major Leagues, making his debut in 2011 for the Oakland A’s...Played three years in the majors including 46 appearances on the mound during the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays...Also spent time in the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets organizations before playing his final year with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan.
First Major League Baseball player out of North Dakota State University...2004 ABCA All-Central Region relief pitcher...2004 All-North Central Conference and NCC All-Academic performer...Set NDSU records for saves in a season (12 in 2004) and career (18), appearances in a season (28 in 2004) and strikeouts per nine innings for a season (13.73 in 2004) and career (10.25)...Also set NCC single-season records for saves (9) and appearances (19) and the NCC career saves record (12)...Had an 11-4 record in 63 career appearances and struck out 120 batters in 105.1 innings...Dominated in NDSU’s final year of Division II play in 2004 with a 6-0 record, 12 saves and 1.40 ERA in 28 appearances striking out 59 against just 16 walks...Got seven of his nine outs by strikeout to earn the save in the 2004 NCC championship game...21st round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2005, the beginning of a 13-year career in professional baseball...First of only two Bison to reach the Major Leagues, making his debut in 2011 for the Oakland A’s...Played three years in the majors including 46 appearances on the mound during the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays...Also spent time in the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets organizations before playing his final year with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan.