MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

First-rounder carries Pac-10 dominance into pro ball

Published on August 4, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


For the better part of the last month, fellow first-round picks Brett Wallace and Pete Kozma have been terrorizing Midwest League pitchers while standing next to each other on the left side of the Quad Cities River Bandits infield.

News came down late Sunday night that Kozma, a shortstop taken by the Cardinals with the 18th overall pick of the 2007 draft, has been promoted to Palm Beach. Not to be left out, the Midwest League gave Wallace an honor of his own on Monday morning, naming the third baseman and 13th overall pick of the 2008 draft the league's Player of the Week.

During the period lasting from July 28-August 3, the 21-year-old slugger out of Arizona State hit safely in all seven games while batting .429 with 12 hits, two homers, four extra-base hits and nine RBI. His nine runs batted in and 12 hits were tied for the league-lead during the week, while his batting average checked in sixth. The stellar seven-day stretch included four multi-hit games and one three-hit game, including a 5-for-7 performance in a doubleheader on Wednesday against West Michigan.

The torrid week raised Wallace's overall numbers to .346 with five home runs and 21 RBI through just 28 games as a professional, all of which have been with the River Bandits. He has added 13 extra-base hits and 23 runs scored, getting on base at a .433 clip while slugging .577. The Pac-10 Triple Crown winner and Player of the Year two times running, Wallace already boasts nine multi-hit games, four three-hit games and three separate hitting streaks of eight, seven, and five games in length. He has hit safely in 23 of his 28 games as a pro and has yet to go hitless in back-to-back games.

Wallace becomes the fourth River Bandits player to earn a weekly league honor this year, following in the footsteps of CF Tommy Pham (May 12-18), LHP Nick Additon (June 2-8), and 1B/OF Matt Arburr (June 23-29).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits will start a four-game series in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday before returning to Modern Woodmen Park on Saturday, August 9, to host the Clinton LumberKings for a four-game set. Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and prorated versions of season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the popular You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 4, 2008


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