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IL St. Paul Saints

The Future Is Now, Saints Have Two SiriusXM All-Star Future Game Participants on Roster as Twins Promote Matt Wallner

July 14, 2022 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - It's only fitting that the man who has hit many Paul Bunyanesque home runs at Double-A Wichita gets the opportunity to return to Minnesota this season. The 6'5 power-hitting Matt Wallner, a graduate of Forest Lake High School, is tied for ninth in all of Minor League Baseball in home runs with 21, has been transferred from Double-A Wichita to the St. Paul Saints.

The 24-year-old Wallner, who was chosen to partake in the July 16 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Los Angeles, is hitting .299 with 21 home runs and 64 RBI in 78 games with the Wind Surge this season. He joins Saints infielder Spencer Steer as the other Twins representative in the game. In 268 at bats he has scored 61 runs, smashed 15 doubles, one triple, swiped eight bases, and has slashed .299/.436/.597 for an incredible 1.033 OPS. Wallner is sixth in all of Minor League Baseball in on base percentage and tied for ninth in home runs. He was among the league leaders in nearly every major offensive category in the Texas League: first in RBI and intentional walks (5), tied for first in extra base hits (160), second in home runs and walks (62), third in number of pitches (1393), tied for third in runs, fourth in on base percentage, slugging, OPS, and extra base hits (37), and 10th in hits (80).

Wallner had four, two home run games and 10 games with three or more RBI including three, four RBI games. He collected a hit in 51 of 78 games including a 4-4 performance with a double and four RBI in his final game at Wichita on Wednesday night.

The Minnesota Twins selected Wallner in the first round (39th overall) of the 2019 draft out of Southern Mississippi. He played 65 games in his first professional season, 53 with the rookie level Elizabethton Twins and 12 games at Single-A Cedar Rapids, where he hit .258 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 65 games between the two stops. In 252 at bats he scored 42 runs, smacked 21 doubles, two triples, and slashed .258/.357/.452 for an .809 OPS.

Last season, despite not starting the season until July due to a wrist injury, Wallner hit .264 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI in 66 games with High-A Cedar Rapids. In 258 at bats he ripped 14 doubles, two triples, and slashed .264/.350/.508.

Wallner had a standout career at Southern Mississippi where he set the school record for career home runs (58). He became the second player in school history to be drafted by the Twins (Brian Dozier), and the highest Southern Mississippi player to be selected in the draft. In his first year he set a school record for most home runs by a freshman with 19, one shy of the Conference USA record and tied for the 10th most in school history. He was named the NCBWA Freshman Hitter of the Year, D1Baseball.com and Baseball America Freshman of the Year, a First Team All-America by NCBWA & D1Baseball.com, Second Team All-America by Baseball America and Perfect Game/Rawlings, and Third Team All-America by ABCA/Rawlings.

Along with setting the school record for home runs, he ranks fifth on the career charts for RBI (190), sixth in slugging percentage (.652), seventh in total bases (449) and first in walks (141).

At Forest Lake High School, Wallner was an All-State Selection, Pioneer Press East Metro Player of the Year, Minnesota Mr. Baseball, and Gatorade Player of the Year for Minnesota in 2016 as a senior HS going 7-1 with a 0.95 ERA and 95 strikeouts and hitting .382 with 10 home runs.

The Twins made additional roster moves that impact the Saints roster: catcher David Bañuelos was activated from the injured list (fractured right thumb), catcher Roy Morales was transferred to Double-A Wichtia, and the Twins signed right-handed pitcher Ben Heller, assigned him to the Saints and placed him on the development list.

The Saints roster stands at the league maximum of 33, 19 pitchers and 14 position players with one Major League rehabber, Miguel Sanó.

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