MLB: Ryan Wagner announces surprise retirement

Twilight of the God?

Nationals right-hander Ryan Wagner decided on Sunday to retire from baseball, and the team is baffled as to why Wagner called it quits.

Although Wagner, 26, was not pitching well for Triple-A Syracuse, assistant general manager Mike Rizzo said there were no plans to take him off the roster.

“I don’t really know what happened. It took us by surprise,” Rizzo said. “He wasn’t going to get replaced. He was still in the bullpen rotation.”

Wagner, acquired from the Reds in the eight-player trade in 2006, did not play in the Major Leagues last year because he was still recovering from right shoulder problems, but he came into camp 100 percent healthy this spring. Manager Manny Acta was impressed at how Wagner had life on his fastball.

“It was shocking [that he retired],” Acta said. “He worked so hard to come back from that surgery and he had his velocity back.”

Wagner did not return a phone message from MLB.com.