Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Wallach to Sign with Marlins

Published on June 16, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


Former Rochester Honkers catcher Chad Wallach (Cal State Fullerton) has decided he will sign with the Miami Marlins after being selected in the fifth round (142 overall) in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft last weekend.

Wallach hit .303 with seven homeruns and 28 RBI in 45 games with the Honkers in 2012. He signed to return to Rochester in 2013, but never arrived because of Cal State Fullerton's success in the NCAA Tournament.

"I had a great time in Rochester," Wallach said. "Being in the lineup every day and playing positions other than catcher was a great experience for me."

As a sophomore (2012) for the Titans, he hit just .206 with four doubles and seven RBI in 32 games. He saw his batting average rise over .100 points in his junior season (2013) as he hit .309 with 32 RBI in 50 games.

"I just took what I learned in the summer an applied it when I got back to school," Wallach said. "I tried to as consistent as possible. Luckily, I was able to have a good year."

Out of high school, the California native was drafted in the 43rd round by his favorite MLB team growing up, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chad's father, Tim Wallach-a five-time all-star in the MLB-is also the third base coach for the Dodgers.

"It would have been nice," Wallach admitted of playing in the Dodgers organization. "But at the same time, I think it might be better that I am on my own. Being drafted this time around feels more like I made it on my own."

"The Marlins are a pretty awesome organization to be drafted by," Wallach added. "I am very happy."

Even though he will not be in the same organization as his father, when Chad looks back, he knows Tim is responsible for helping him get to where he is at today.

"He was a huge influence," Chad said of his father, Tim. "He definitely helped the most out of anyone in my career. He not only taught me to play the game the right way, but taught me a lot about the mechanical side of the game."

Because of his father's successful 17-year career, Chad will certainly face pressure to duplicate Tim's path to the major league. But to Wallach, that is the dream of all players that hear his name called in the draft, regardless of they had family members who made it.

"I definitely want to make it to the big leagues eventually," Wallach said. "That is what everyone hopes to achieve after they get drafted."

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