Cards Sign #1 Pick - Brett Wallace - Cards P.R.

BleacherBum593 · 07-01-2008, 06:02 PM

The Cardinals sent out the following press release within the last 1/2 hour.

----
Cardinals sign top pick Brett Wallace
07/01/2008 4:51 PM ET
MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed their first selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, third baseman Brett Wallace. The contract signing occurred today at Busch Stadium. Wallace is the ninth first-round selection from the 2008 Draft to sign a contract.
Wallace, 21, batted .410 (98-239) with a career-high 22 home runs and 83 RBI this past season as a junior for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, becoming just the fifth player in conference history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. The 6'1", 245-pound Wallace captured the Pac-10 Triple Crown each of the last two seasons. As a sophomore last season, he posted a .404 batting average with 16 home runs and 78 RBI. Wallace became just the second player in school history to hit over .400 twice in a career.

"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."

Wallace recently was named a Baseball America All-American, his fourth All-American honor. He is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award will be given out on July 16 as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Week in New York City.

Wallace is at Busch Stadium today and will take some swings during Cardinals batting practice. He will report to the Midwest League's Quad Cities River Bandits tomorrow.

tulcard · 07-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Excellent....I wish him the best in his career and can't wait to see how he progresses.

ArRedbird · 07-01-2008, 07:32 PM

Wallace's signing bonus has not been disclosed, though it's believed he signed close to the prescribed slot -- around $1.9 million.

He'll begin playing for Quad Cities, Low-A.
That's challenging him right off the bat!

BleacherBum593 · 07-01-2008, 09:22 PM

Justin-Siena grad Wallace signs with baseball's Cardinals by Napa Valley Register

Quote:

He will play third base for the River Bandits for “a couple of weeks” to get used to swinging a wooden bat before breaking for the Golden Spikes Award festivities in New York, July 14-16.

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top collegiate baseball player in the United States, and Wallace is one of five finalists.

Wallace’s parents will join him for the major league All-Star Game on July 15 at Yankee Stadium in New York, where he will be announced as one of the finalists during pregame festivities.

And here's the most interesting tidbit found in the article:

Quote:

From there, Larry Wallace said, his son will be shipped to the Palm Beach Cardinals, a high-level Class A team in the Florida State League.

Looks like the Cards plan on keeping him at QC for less than 2 weeks.

AutobodyCAD · 07-02-2008, 12:23 PM

For those of you who don't know, my last name is Wallace. I would dearly like to get a St. Louis Cardinals "Wallace" jersey, with Brett's number on it.

So I hope he makes it to the bigs with us.

PS. Brett and I have fathers of the same, name, too! Larry.

07-01-2008, 06:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Cards Sign #1 Pick - Brett Wallace - Cards P.R. The Cardinals sent out the following press release within the last 1/2 hour. ---- Cardinals sign top pick Brett Wallace 07/01/2008 4:51 PM ET MLB.com ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed their first selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, third baseman Brett Wallace. The contract signing occurred today at Busch Stadium. Wallace is the ninth first-round selection from the 2008 Draft to sign a contract. Wallace, 21, batted .410 (98-239) with a career-high 22 home runs and 83 RBI this past season as a junior for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, becoming just the fifth player in conference history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. The 6'1", 245-pound Wallace captured the Pac-10 Triple Crown each of the last two seasons. As a sophomore last season, he posted a .404 batting average with 16 home runs and 78 RBI. Wallace became just the second player in school history to hit over .400 twice in a career. "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." Wallace recently was named a Baseball America All-American, his fourth All-American honor. He is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award will be given out on July 16 as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Week in New York City. Wallace is at Busch Stadium today and will take some swings during Cardinals batting practice. He will report to the Midwest League's Quad Cities River Bandits tomorrow. __________________ "Build it and they will come"

07-01-2008, 07:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
tulcard Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 863	Excellent....I wish him the best in his career and can't wait to see how he progresses.

07-01-2008, 07:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 565	Wallace's signing bonus has not been disclosed, though it's believed he signed close to the prescribed slot -- around $1.9 million. He'll begin playing for Quad Cities, Low-A. That's challenging him right off the bat!

07-02-2008, 12:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
AutobodyCAD Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 367	For those of you who don't know, my last name is Wallace. I would dearly like to get a St. Louis Cardinals "Wallace" jersey, with Brett's number on it. So I hope he makes it to the bigs with us. PS. Brett and I have fathers of the same, name, too! Larry.