Wagner attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. In 1987 he led the team with an ERA of 2.40, and was named to the All-MVC second team. Wagner is the most recent Illinois State pitcher to throw a no-hitter, which he accomplished in a 9–0 victory over Chicago State in 1987. In 1989, he led the team in wins with 8, and broke the school record for most games started in a single season with 16 (a record which would stand until 2010.) Wagner was named to the All-MVC first team for 1989.[1]
On August 29, 1995, while with the Pirates, Wagner had a no-hitter broken up against the Colorado Rockies with two out in the ninth on an Andrés Galarraga single. It was the only hit Wagner would allow in defeating the Rockies 4–0.[3] The no-hitter would have been the first by a Pirate since John Candelaria in 1976. Wagner finished his 8-year career with a 4.83 ERA. He pitched in 598.2 innings, allowing 640 hits and 321 earned runs. In 160 appearances including 84 starts, Wagner handled 137 total chances (50 putouts, 87 assists) without an error for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.