Brett Wallace Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1284
AVG	.238
OBP	.316
SLG	.389
HR	40

Full name Brett Alexander Wallace
Born 08/26/1986 in Marin, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Arizona State
Debut 07/31/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008 (signed for $1,840,000).

View Draft Report

Four of the top hitters in the college draft class--Wallace, Stanford's Jason Castro, California's David Cooper and South Carolina's Jay Darnell--played together for NorCal Baseball's travel team in high school. Wallace was a bad-bodied third baseman then, tipping the scales at close to 260 pounds. Many scouts still see him as a bad-body third baseman waiting to move to first, but others see more. Many see the best natural hitter in the West. Wallace has a strong swing with above-average bat speed; his swing path stays in the zone a long time and he has outstanding plate discipline. Defensively, Wallace had made just eight errors at third in 50 games, and he has at least average arm strength to go with nifty feet. While he's cleaned up his body, he still has huge thighs that make it hard for him to get low enough to properly field groundballs. Scouts that think he could stay at third compare him to 2007 Indians first-rounder Beau Mills, who also had questionable skills at third. Those that don't care for him cite his body and the short careers of players built similarly, such as Bob Hamelin. Wallace's bat should get him drafted in the first round regardless, and most scouts give him at least above-average raw power grades.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The A's loved Wallace heading into the 2008 draft but elected to go with Jemile Weeks with the 12th overall pick. Wallace went one pick later to the Cardinals, signed for $1.84 million and had reached Triple-A when St. Louis traded him, Clayton Mortensen and outfield prospect Shane Peterson for Matt Holliday last July. A natural hitter, Wallace has a strong lower half and an inside-out stroke that allows him to drive balls to all fields. He has outstanding bat control and knows to how to get in favorable counts where he can do the most damage, allowing him to project for 20 homers per year despite not having outstanding raw power. His recognizes pitches well and puts together relentless at-bats. He has the hands and arm strength to play third base. Though he has worked hard at third base, Wallace lacks the agility and athleticism for the position. Most scouts think he'll have to move across the diamond to first base. He's a below-average runner. Oakland has a logjam of potential first basemen, while Eric Chavez has played just 32 games the last two seasons. Ideally, Wallace would be ready to play third base in the majors this year, but more than likely he'll compete for playing time with Chris Carter and Daric Barton at first base. He has the talent to win a big league batting title some day.
The Cardinals pounced on the chance to draft Wallace, who won the Pacific-10 Conference triple crown in each of the last two seasons, with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 draft--their highest choice since 2000. Less than two months after signing for $1.84 million, he was raking at Double-A Springfield, turning what was supposed to be an injury-replacement cameo into a starting gig. Already one of the best pure hitters in the minors, Wallace has an elegant and refined approach. His balanced, level swing creates consistent line drives, and he isn't easily fooled because of his keen eye and quick adjustments. Plenty of doubles and a fair amount of homers will be the byproduct of his strength and the charge he gets from his methodic, squared-up swings. Think batting champ with the ability to be a big bopper. He has an average arm and surprising footwork at third base. Wallace has a thick lower body and has below-average athleticism, speed and agility. Some scouts say he's too stiff to stay at third base for the long term, while his advocates say he makes the plays he can get to and could become an average defender with more coaching. He'll have to work hard to make sure his body doesn't go south on him. One of two 2008 draft picks to play in the Arizona Fall League, Wallace will spend this season in Triple-A. He should take over at third base for the Cardinals after Troy Glaus' contract expires at the end of 2009. Moving to first base isn't an option with Albert Pujols in St. Louis.

Minor League Top Prospects

Wallace has been traded three times since the Cardinals selected him 13th overall in 2008. Most recently, Toronto shipped him to the Astros in July for outfield prospect Anthony Gose as an adjunct to the Roy Oswalt trade. Wallace's value rests solely in his bat. He has a compact swing and doesn't have any trouble handling lefthanders. His power might not be ideal for a first baseman, but he should be an annual 20-homer threat and can hit balls out to all fields. PCL observers did have concerns about Wallace's offense, however. He has trouble pulling balls with authority, and managers felt he could be attacked on the inner half. He doesn't clear his hips well in his swing, which makes scouts wonder how well his stroke will translate. His speed and mobility are well below-average and he'll never be an asset defensively.
Matt Holliday may not have produced like the Athletics hoped he would after trading for him in the offseason, but he did yield Wallace and two other prospects (righthander Clayton Mortensen and outfielder Shane Peterson) in a midsummer trade with the Cardinals. The 13th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Wallace is one of the most advanced hitters in the minors. "He's a big league hitter right now," New Orleans manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "His pitch recognition is fine. He stays inside the ball very well. That's why he hits lefthanded pitching very well. He drives the ball to left center. He shows power to all fields." Defense remains his biggest question mark. His hands are fine and he has enough arm to play third base, but his lack of agility and range make it unlikely that he'll be able to stay there. Most PCL observers thought he'd have to move to first base.
Wallace left the TL before the end of May, then he became the key player the Athletics received when they sent Matt Holliday to the Cardinals at the trade deadline. He has an impact bat, with a good swing and a keen ability to handle the strike zone, and he should hit for power and get on base consistently. Some thought he was pitched around in the TL and expanded his zone at times. Most observers see Wallace as a marginal defender at third base, average at best, though his supporters think he gets the job done even if it's not always pretty. He has limited range with decent hands and an average arm. After he got traded to the A's, though, playing first base and DH become viable options.
After winning consecutive Pacific-10 Conference triple crowns, Wallace went 13th overall in the 2008 draft and finished his first pro summer by batting .367/.456/.653 in Double-A. A pure hitter with a quick bat and a disciplined approach, he should contend for major league batting titles while being a doubles machine with at least 20-homer power. He consistently makes sweet-spot contact and has no trouble handling lefthanders. No scout or manager who has seen Wallace doubts that he'll hit, but his defense is another matter. He's 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, and he's not going to play first base with Albert Pujols entrenched in St. Louis. He moved to third base at Arizona State last spring and stayed there in his debut. Wallace doesn't have much speed or first-step quickness, but he does own a strong, accurate arm and reliable hands. He'll make the routine play, and what he lacks in lateral range he'll make up for with his production at the plate.