MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

First-Rounder Wallace Signs, Headed to Quad Cities

Published on July 1, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits will be getting another first-round pick on Wednesday, as the St. Louis Cardinals announced the signing of Brett Wallace and their intention to send him to Davenport on Tuesday afternoon at a Busch Stadium press conference.

Wallace, a 21-year-old from Sonoma, California, was taken by St. Louis with the 13th overall pick of the 2008 draft out of Arizona State. The power-hitting third baseman won the Pac-10 Triple Crown in both 2007 and 2008, earning conference Player of the Year honors while leading the Sun Devils to the Pac-10 Championship in both seasons.

"We are very happy to have Brett under contract and are anxious to see him start playing for our Quad Cities club," said Cardinals Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow. "He has a high ceiling and will be an exciting player for us and Cardinals fans to follow as he begins his professional career."

A 6-foot-1, 245-pounder, Wallace hit .410 with 22 homers and 83 RBI as a junior in 2008, somehow finding a way to improve his numbers following a sophomore campaign that saw him bat .404 with 16 homers and 78 driven in. During his three-year career in Tempe, Wallace hit .398 - second in school history - while blasting 45 home runs with 193 RBI and 193 runs scored. As a prep star at Justin-Sienna High School in Sonoma, Wallace hit .464 and led his school to a 97-9 record over four years, including a perfect 27-0 season as a senior in 2005.

Wallace became the ninth player selected in the first round of the 2008 draft to sign, inking his professional contract at Busch Stadium on Tuesday before taking a turn in the cage during the Cardinals' batting practice.

On Wednesday he will head to the Quad Cites, where Wallace and Pete Kozma will form one of the most star-studded left sides of the infield in all of Minor League Baseball. Kozma was the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 2007 draft, selected 18th overall out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. While Kozma has already garnered Midwest League All-Star honors at shortstop, Wallace will step in next to him at third base.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits are in the latter portion of a seven-game homestand at Modern Woodmen Park that stretches into the All-Star break. They continue a three-game series against the Beloit Snappers on Flag Day with a flag giveaway and a Rockin' Saturday presented by Coors Light and WQAD Newschannel 8, featuring live post-game music by The Dani Lynn Howe Band. The homestand concludes on the final day of the first half with a U.S. Bank Family Sunday on Father's Day, including a baseball giveaway courtesy of HNI Corporation and Fox 18 as well as a Father's Day game of catch on the field brought to you by Spike TV. Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and 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 July 1, 2008


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