LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — This time last year, Billy Wagner was facing little leaguers in Virginia and recovering from elbow surgery.
The former All-Star closer, signed by the Braves in the offseason, retired all three batters he faced Tuesday night in Atlanta’s 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and said he felt comfortable for the first time this spring.
The left-hander was knocked around in his first appearance last week.
“I worked hard to get back,” Wagner said. “I was having a blast pitching to Little Leaguers. I didn’t even think about coming back until the Little League season was over. They told me I was done, so I wanted to prove that I wasn’t.”
Wagner vowed to return to the New York Mets and he did in August, pitching in two games before he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox. He closed out the season in Boston and went the free agent route to Atlanta.