Brett Wallace
Encyclopedia
Brett Alexander Wallace (born August 26, 1986 in Sonoma
, California
) is an American professional baseball
first baseman
with the Houston Astros
of Major League Baseball
.
in Napa, California
, Wallace earned four varsity baseball letters for head coach Allen Rossi. He helped lead Justin-Siena to a 97-9 record during his prep career, including a perfect 27-0 senior season. He broke nine school records during his prep career and holds single-season school records for walks, runs, hits, RBI, home runs and slugging percentage. Among his numerous accolades, Wallace was named a Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger All-American and 2005 first-team All-State (CalHiSports.com) and 2005 California Small Schools Player of the Year. He was also a four-time All-Marin County Athletic League selection, 2004 and 2005 All-Napa County Offensive Player of the Year.
shared the award in 2003.
Wallace played 3B for the Sun Devils, teaming with now New York Mets
first baseman Ike Davis
at 1B and now Cleveland Indians
second baseman Jason Kipnis
in center field. The 2008 ASU squad also featured Cincinnati Reds
pitcher Mike Leake
and San Diego Padres
pitcher Josh Spence
.
in the 42nd round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with the team. After his collegiate career, the St. Louis Cardinals
drafted Wallace in the first round (13th overall) of the 2008 amateur draft
from Arizona State University. After his performance in Single -A Quad Cities, Wallace skipped High-A Palm Beach
and was promoted to AA Springfield
. He began 2009 playing for Springfield before being promoted to AAA Memphis
.
On July 24, 2009, Wallace was traded to the Oakland Athletics
as part of a package for outfielder
Matt Holliday
.
On December 15, 2009, Wallace was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for Michael Taylor
, who had just been obtained by the Blue Jays from the Philadelphia Phillies
as a part of a trade for Roy Halladay.
On July 29, 2010, he was traded again, this time to the Houston Astros
, in exchange for minor league outfielder Anthony Gose, who had just been obtained by the Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies as a part of a trade for Roy Oswalt
. Wallace was sent to the AAA affiliate, the Round Rock Express
, for one day and did not appear in a game before being called up by the Astros on July 31, 2010 after Lance Berkman
was traded to the New York Yankees
.
Wallace made his Major League debut against the Milwaukee Brewers
on July 31, 2010, and went 0-4. The next day, he got his first career hit, a single, off of Brewers' pitcher Randy Wolf
.
On September 7, 2010, Wallace hit his first career home run off of Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva, tying the game.
On August 1, 2011, Wallace was sent back to the AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks club.
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is an American professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
High school
A 2005 graduate of Justin-Siena High SchoolJustin-Siena High School
Justin-Siena High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school, located in Napa, California within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California. The school was created when Justin High School for males, sponsored by the Christian Brothers of the San Francisco District, merged...
in Napa, California
Napa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
, Wallace earned four varsity baseball letters for head coach Allen Rossi. He helped lead Justin-Siena to a 97-9 record during his prep career, including a perfect 27-0 senior season. He broke nine school records during his prep career and holds single-season school records for walks, runs, hits, RBI, home runs and slugging percentage. Among his numerous accolades, Wallace was named a Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger All-American and 2005 first-team All-State (CalHiSports.com) and 2005 California Small Schools Player of the Year. He was also a four-time All-Marin County Athletic League selection, 2004 and 2005 All-Napa County Offensive Player of the Year.
College career
Wallace is a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (2007 & 2008) and a two-time Triple Crown Winner at Arizona State University. He was the 12th Sun Devil to win the Pac-10 Player of the Year award, and the first since Dustin PedroiaDustin Pedroia
Dustin Luis Pedroia is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Pedroia has won several awards in Major League Baseball, including the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year and the 2008 AL MVP award...
shared the award in 2003.
Wallace played 3B for the Sun Devils, teaming with now New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
first baseman Ike Davis
Ike Davis
Isaac Benjamin "Ike" Davis is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the New York Mets. He and his father Ron Davis, who pitched in the majors for 11 years, are the 197th father-son combination to have both played in the major leagues.He led his high school team to three straight Arizona state...
at 1B and now Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
second baseman Jason Kipnis
Jason Kipnis
Jason Michael Kipnis is an American baseball player who plays second base for the Cleveland Indians. He was called up from the minor leagues to the Indians on July 22, 2011....
in center field. The 2008 ASU squad also featured Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcher Mike Leake
Mike Leake
Michael Raymond Leake , is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He bats and throws right-handed...
and San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
pitcher Josh Spence
Josh Spence
Joshua Patrick William Spence is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Padres in the ninth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University...
.
Professional career
Wallace was drafted by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 42nd round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, but did not sign with the team. After his collegiate career, the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
drafted Wallace in the first round (13th overall) of the 2008 amateur draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
from Arizona State University. After his performance in Single -A Quad Cities, Wallace skipped High-A Palm Beach
Palm Beach Cardinals
The Palm Beach Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club....
and was promoted to AA Springfield
Springfield Cardinals
The Springfield Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club, and is owned by the Cardinals. The club plays at Hammons Field.The Springfield Cardinals...
. He began 2009 playing for Springfield before being promoted to AAA Memphis
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
.
On July 24, 2009, Wallace was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as part of a package for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
.
On December 15, 2009, Wallace was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor (baseball)
Michael D. Taylor is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics.-Baseball career:...
, who had just been obtained by the Blue Jays from the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
as a part of a trade for Roy Halladay.
On July 29, 2010, he was traded again, this time to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, in exchange for minor league outfielder Anthony Gose, who had just been obtained by the Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies as a part of a trade for Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
. Wallace was sent to the AAA affiliate, the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
, for one day and did not appear in a game before being called up by the Astros on July 31, 2010 after Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Wallace made his Major League debut against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on July 31, 2010, and went 0-4. The next day, he got his first career hit, a single, off of Brewers' pitcher Randy Wolf
Randy Wolf
Randall Christopher Wolf is a left-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. Randy's older brother Jim is a Major League umpire. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss...
.
On September 7, 2010, Wallace hit his first career home run off of Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva, tying the game.
On August 1, 2011, Wallace was sent back to the AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks club.
External links
- Brett Wallace's Stats at milb.com