Springfield had barely left town last week from its first visit to Dickey-Stephens in '09 when the St Louis Cardinal's #2 prospect Brett Wallace (below) got the call-up to Triple-A Memphis.
Signed for $1.84 million, Wallace was the 13th overall draft pick by St. Louis last June and in a fact pointed out in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch blog post , is the first of the '08 top 15 to make it to Triple-A. And in less than a year's time as a pro, Baseball America says he "Already is one of the best pure hitters in the minors." Wallace won the Pac-10 Conference triple crown in '07 and '08 for Arizona Sate so hitting is his gift. It's his defense that will really be scrutinized now that he is with the Red Birds.
Wallace came in to Dickey-Stephens playing third and will do so at Memphis for the time being. He's replaced David Freese, who is on the DL with and ankle injury. In his first game for the Red Birds this past weekend, Brett went 3-for-4.
To me, Wallace's defense is adequate at best. Since he hasn't even played a full season in Double-A and skipped High-A, his glove will be put to the test at the hot corner in Memphis.
But whether the 22-year-old 6' 1" 245 pound prospect, who bats left and throws right, is at third or moved to left you can bet he won't be going back down. Derrick Goold in his above-referenced blog post says, "the club is certain of only the place they don't expect him to go again--back in Class AA."
-- Lonesome Traveler
There are some adjustments that would have to be made to the 40-man, but rumors are circulating that Wallace may be brought up for a bit to DH in interleague play vs KC and Cleveland.
Posted by: Stephen Colboar | May 19, 2009 at 03:35 PM
So many players have come through here. From Zack Greinke, possibly the best pitcher in baseball, to Dexter Fowler, an early candidate for rookie of the year, we've seen a lot of talent. There are so many MLB fans in these parts who don't come to Travs games and are missing a lot.
Posted by: The Travelerocity reporter | May 19, 2009 at 10:55 PM