Tag: Cayden Wallace

Wallace extends hitting streak to 8 games with Naturals

Former Arkansas standout Cayden Wallace has now hit in eight straight games for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Former Arkansas baseball standout Cayden Wallace laced an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night to extend his team-high 8-game hitting streak for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

The hit spurred a three-run rally for the Naturals, who still fell to the Tulsa Drillers, 7-4.

Wallace is hitting just .224 in 12 games, since being promoted to the Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. But he has continue to be consistent with the bat since returning to Northwest Arkansas as a professional.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound third baseman from Greenbrier, spent his two-year Razorback career just 13 miles down the road from his new home, Springdale’s Arvest Ballpark.

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, Wallace has hit .264 in 541 career minor league at-bats, with 12 home runs, 87 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases. He was batting .261, with 10 homers, 64 RBIs and 10 stolen bases for Single-A Quad Cities, before getting promoted on Aug. 8.

He signed with the Royals for $1.7 million after being the 49th overall player drafted.

“I was so excited to be back,” Wallace said after arriving in Springdale. “Just seeing all the fans gave me chill bumps. It was really cool, and I’m just really thankful for the fans and just how supportive the Arkansas fans are and how amazing they’ve treated me over the last few years.

“When I got drafted, I was super excited because I knew there was a chance at some point in the future I was going to be back here, and the major leagues is definitely the goal, but one of my goals was to get here.”

Wallace currently ranks No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s ranking of the Royals’ top 30 prospects. He is only the second Razorback to ever play for the Naturals since they were established in Springdale in 2008, following only Brett Eibner in 2013.

The Naturals will continue their current 12-game homestand Wednesday night against the Drillers at 7:05 p.m., and will remain at home through Sept. 3.

 

Hogs fans will get a chance to see Cayden Wallace again up close

Former Arkansas third baseman and outfielder Cayden Wallace was promoted to Double-A on Monday.

Monday wasn’t a half-bad birthday for former Arkansas third baseman and outfielder Cayden Wallace.

He’s headed back to NWA.

The Kansas City Royals prospect was promoted Monday to the team’s Double-A affilate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals play in Springdale, one city north of where Wallace played his college baseball with the Diamond Hogs.

Wallace slashed .261/.341/.431 in 97 games for Quad Cities at the Royals’ High-A level in 2023. His 22 doubles and 64 RBI led the team. Wallace will also be joined in Northwest Arkansas by teammates Gavin Cross and Javier Vaz. The three were all starters for Quad Cities. Cross entered the year as Kansas City’s No. 1 prospect and Wallace entered as No. 4.

Wallace was excellent for Arkansas in 2022 before he entered the MLB Draft. He slashed .298/.387/.553 with 16 home runs and 16 RBI in helping the Diamond Hogs to the College World Series.

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Photo Gallery: Cayden Wallace’s time as a Razorback

Cayden Wallace had a great two-year career in Arkansas in every aspect of the game.

The 2022 Major League Draft began by Arkansas standards in round two, when third baseman [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] was taken with the 49th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals.

Wallace was one of three players taken in the second round of the MLB Draft, joining RHP [autotag]Peyton Pallette[/autotag] (White Sox) and second baseman [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] (Brewers).

Wallace had a successful two seasons in a Razorback uniform. At the plate, Wallace hit for a .298 average, and collected 272 total bases, 149 hits, 30 home runs, and 104 RBI in 127 games.

Wallace started all 67 games for Arkansas in 2022 at third base. He led the team in RBI with 60, and in doubles with 20. He joined Brady Slavens atop the team’s home run leaderboard with 16, and was second in hits with 82, one hit behind the team’s leader, Michael Turner.

In the field, Wallace had a career fielding percentage of .956, committing just 11 errors in two seasons. In 2022, Wallace made 29 putouts while assisting on 110 outs. He, along with fellow draft picks Jalen Battles and Robert Moore, formed one of the best defensive infields in the SEC.

Here’s a look back at the best moments from Wallace’s two seasons at Arkansas:

Zebulon Vermillion inks deal with New York Mets

Vermillion has signed a money-saving deal with the New York Mets, which brings Arkansas’ signing total to seven players.

A former Arkansas reliever is the latest to sign his rookie contract.

[autotag]Zebulon Vermillion[/autotag], the No. 299 overall selection by the New York Mets, has agreed to terms with the organization according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.

According to Callis, the deal is a money-saver for the Mets, who have signed Vermillion for $20,000.

Vermillion posted an overall record of 10-1 in five seasons at Arkansas, recording an even 100 strikeouts in 71 appearances. Vermillion saw his most action during the 2022 season, a season in which he used his extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season of 2020.

In 24 appearances, Vermillion struck out 28 batters while walking ten and allowing 22 hits in 26.1 innings of work on the mound, posting a career-low in ERA with 2.39.

Vermillion becomes the seventh Razorback draftee to sign a rookie deal. At the time of this post, no deals had been reported for [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] (49th overall selection by Kansas City), and [autotag]Mark Adamiak[/autotag] (454th overall selection by Oakland).

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Chicago White Sox agree to terms with Michael Turner

Turner is set to join teammate Peyton Pallette in the White Sox organization

He may have only spent one season in Arkansas, but, wow, what a season it was.

[autotag]Michael Turner[/autotag], who transferred to Arkansas from Kent State ahead of the 2022 season, has officially signed a rookie deal with the Chicago White Sox, ending his career as a Razorback after one season.

According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, the White Sox have signed Turner to a money-saving deal worth $35,000.

Turner was taken in the 9th round by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, becoming the second Razorback to the selected by the White Sox, joining RHP [autotag]Peyton Pallette[/autotag].

He became the seventh player from Arkansas selected out of nine overall. Those drafted before Turner have all signed with their respective organizations at the time of this post, with the exception of [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag], who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals at No. 49 overall.

Turner enjoyed his best season in a college uniform at Arkansas in 2022 in a myriad of ways. He set career bests in RBI (53), walks (27), doubles (17), hits (83), at-bats (257), home runs (9), and total bases (129).

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Arkansas’ expected 2023 starting shortstop taken in MLB draft

Jordan Sprinkle could still land at Arkansas, but a fourth-round selection will be tough to turn down.

Jordan Sprinkle announced he would be transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 season just days ago. Now he may never make it to campus.

Sprinkle, a transfer from Cal-Santa Barbara, was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. The Sox had selected Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette in the second round the day before.

Sprinkle has two seasons of college eligibility left should he decline to sign with Chicago and play at Arkansas, instead. He hit .285/.381/.413 with the Gauchos last year. Sprinkle was expected to slot into the starting shortstop role left vacant by Jalen Battles, whose eligibility was exhausted.

Battles was taken a round later than Sprinkle, in the fifth, by Tampa Bay.

Through six rounds, Arkansas had six players associated with the school selected: four who played with the team last year, Sprinkle, and high-schooler Cole Phillips.

Arkansas shorstop Jalen Battles taken by Tampa Bay in MLB draft

Jalen Battles, a slick-fielding middle infielder, will join the Rays organization.

Jalen Battles’ glove has always played at a Major League-level. Turns out, teams like his bat, too.

The former Arkansas shortstop was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft on Monday by the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit hit .289/.364/.480 with 10 home runs this past season while combining with Robert Moore at second base to give the Diamond Hogs one of the NCAA’s best double-play combinations.

Battles considered leaving for the professional ranks after the 2021 season when he hit .269/.371/.407 as his fielding skills had made him a prospect already. Instead, he returned to Fayetteville and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series.

Battles was the fourth Arkansas player taken in the draft after Sunday saw third baseman Cayden Wallace, pitcher Peyton Pallette and Moore all selected.

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Diamond Hogs lose would-be freshman pitcher to MLB draft

Cole Phillips could still choose to go to Arkansas, though Atlanta will make every attempt to sign him to a pro deal.

Cole Phillips was always a longshot to play for Arkansas even though he committed out of Boerne, Texas.

Phillips, one of the top high-school pitchers in the country, was selected in the second round of the MLB draft Sunday by Atlanta, going 57th overall, five picks ahead of Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette, who went to the White Sox.

Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery three months ago and won’t play the rest of the summer even if he decides to join the Braves organization. If Phillips chooses to go to Arkansas, he will draft-eligible after his sophomore season.

He was one of four players with Diamond Hogs connections taken on Sunday. Third baseman Cayden Wallace was the first Arkansas player taken when Kansas City chose him with the No. 49 pick. Second baseman Robert Moore, whose father Dayton is the general manager for Kansas City, went to Milwaukee with the 72nd pick.

Several other Arkansas players are likely to be taken during Monday’s portion of the draft which covers rounds three through 20.

Phillips and the other three Arkansas players selected have until August to decide whether he will sign with Atlanta or attend Arkansas.

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Arkansas baseball roster will see several changes in next two days

Arkansas will lose several starters in the MLB Draft Sunday and Monday.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn is mostly just ready to have this over with.

The MLB Draft begins Sunday and several Arkansas players will be selected. Some of those players are underclassmen who could conceivably return to the Razorbacks, but likely won’t. Players like third baseman Cayden Wallace, pitcher Peyton Pallette and second baseman Robert Moore are among them.

Players like Michael Turner, Jalen Battles and Chris Lanzilli could be taken, but they’re out of eligibility, anyway.

Then there are players like Jordan Sprinkle and Jayson Jones, both scheduled to join the Razorbacks next year, but a high draft spot could change things.

“We know who there’s a possibility of losing,” Van Horn said. “If we lose them, we get it. There’s 20 rounds, if you see someone’s name pop up, then they probably already made a deal. With 20 rounds, they’ve got to get those kids signed.”

In years past, the draft was 40 rounds. But between teams’ desires to shorten it in recent years and the elimination of several lower-level minor-league teams, the 20-round draft is the new norm.

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New mock draft lists Cayden Wallace as a first day selection

The former Razorback third baseman is projected to head west in ESPN’s latest MLB mock draft

Although [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag]’s career at Arkansas was a short one, there is no doubt that he made an impact on the Razorbacks program.

Wallace played a key role in two of Arkansas’ more memorable seasons. He played in 60 games during his freshman season, playing a role in Arkansas’ SEC Championship run. His sophomore campaign lasted 67 games and ended with a trip to the College World Series.

While at Arkansas, Wallace was an asset in every aspect of the game. At the plate, he leaves Arkansas with 30 total home runs and 104 RBI, batting for an average of .289. On the field, he teamed up with fellow Draft participants Jalen Battles and Robert Moore to form one of the best infields in College Baseball. In two seasons, Wallace committed just 11 errors, and fielded at a .956 clip.

It is easy to see why Major League Baseball clubs want Wallace to be the next key piece to their organization.

In a recent mock draft by ESPN, Wallace is projected as a second round pick by the Colorado Rockies, being selected with the 38th overall pick.

Wallace was also recently projected to be the first Razorback taken in this year’s MLB Draft by D1Baseball. Six Razorbacks were listed in D1Baseball’s top 150 college prospects rankings, with Wallace being named first, checking in at No. 19.

The Major League Baseball Draft is set to begin Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT.

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