MLB draft pick teaches baseball in Gillett

Wagner works with clients at New View Industries, shows finer points of sport
By: 
Luke Reimer
Reporter

A recent Major League Baseball draft pick experienced a different audience of baseball in Gillett recently.

Green Bay Preble graduate, current Clemson University third baseman and 2022 Baltimore Orioles second-round draft pick Max Wagner visited New View Industries on July 12 to teach and play baseball with their clients.

New View Industries provides vocational services to the disabled in Oconto County.

“We just put on a small, fun clinic, so clients could participate in a new baseball experience,” said New View Industries case manager Dustin Coopman.

Coopman said the event was organized in order to add another new experience for their clients.

“We always love to give new experiences to our people,” said Coopman. “We saw this as a great opportunity to connect with Max and get to learn about his journey. It was nice to get our folks outside and playing some baseball with him.”

Wagner said that giving back to the community and seeing others enjoy baseball has always been a big part of who he is.

“Most people are God’s angels and always have smiles on their faces, so it is always fun to spend time with others in the community who like baseball,” said Wagner. “I was born and raised in Green Bay — I volunteer with the Miracle League — I want to help out small towns who don’t get attention. That is the kid that I have always been.”

Wagner, along with his father Paul and case workers at New View Industries walked the adults and teenagers through three different stations, including hitting, aiming throws and long toss. Wagner then signed autographs after the field work.

“One reason why I do this is to see all of the smiling faces,” said Wagner. “Everyone is in a different situation, so it is fun to see everyone just make the most out of every opportunity. It is just fun to be with them.”

Coopman said everyone involved in the event left smiling and talking about how they had a good time.

“Everyone enjoyed the different stations and meeting Max,” said Coopman. “Just doing something physical outside made everyone have a fun experience.”

He added that participating in events like this is very important to New View Industries.

“Everyone loves it,” said Coopman. “Interacting with other people from the community and learning new experiences is very important to us.”

Through Coopman’s point of view, he said that he was as excited as those participating in the stations to see their reactions.

“It was really cool to meet Max and to see him interact with our folks,” said Coopman. “It was really cool to see how happy everyone was to participate.”

Even though Wagner has played two seasons for the University of Clemson and is a recent MLB draft pick, he said that continuing to meet and play baseball with those who may not get his opportunity is still a priority for him.

“I want to be a part of my community and give back where I can” Wagner said.

Coopman said that a goal of New View Industries is to get outside and give clients the opportunity to experience different sports and games.

“We try to be community-oriented, get involved with different events in the community and enrich their lives,” said Coopman. “This helps our folks to feel involved and know that they have supports. This gives them the chance to enjoy an opportunity just like any everyday person.”

Moving forward in his baseball career, Wagner said that doing things like teaching baseball will help him in the mental aspect of the sport.

“With baseball being such a hard sport, knowing that there are people with smiles on their faces and that are happy helps me in that aspect,” said Wagner. “I always come back to working with these kids and adults and they couldn’t care less what happens. It is just a bright spot for me.”

Wagner, a sophomore who was 2022 Player of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, joins a list of players including former Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun as ACC Players of the Year drafted into the MLB.