Follow the Prospects: Cayden Wallace, 3B

[imref]

Cayden Wallace
5'11, 205lbs
DOB: 8/7/2001
B/T: R/R
Drafted by the KC Royals in the 2nd round of 2022 (49th overall pick).
Acquired by the Nationals in July of 2024 for Hunter Harvey

Stats:
https://www.milb.com/player/cayden-wallace-691024

MiLB.com Scouting Report (2024):

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Wallace made an immediate impact at Arkansas when he tied the school's freshman home run record (14) for his home state Razorbacks. He led Arkansas to the College World Series as a Draft-eligible sophomore, and then the Royals took him in the second round of the 2022 Draft while giving him a $1.7 million signing bonus. In his first full pro season, the 22-year-old had a strong start in High-A before a late-season bump to Double-A. His performance dipped slightly at the higher level, but he slashed .254/.331/.414 over 130 games total in 2023, with 27 doubles, seven triples, 13 homers and 84 RBIs. Wallace was dealt to the Nats in July in a deal for Hunter Harvey.

Wallace goes to the plate with a calm demeanor and simple mechanics, in addition to a compact and efficient right-handed swing. He has a true feel for the barrel and has power potential to all fields, although he struggled with breaking balls in 2023 and could have gotten pull-happy in an attempt to create more power. He projects as more of a gap-to-gap hitter than a home run hitter, but as he adds strength, he might tap into that above-average raw power.

More than anything in 2023, Wallace showed he could handle the hot corner. He’s a natural third baseman with a strong, plus arm. His throws are accurate with good carry -- even the balls he fielded close to the line made it across the diamond with plenty of zip. Wallace has solid baserunning skills to help his average speed, which will lead to more stolen bases. By the end of ‘24, Wallace could be in Triple-A and a step away from the Majors. If he taps into his power, he could be the power-hitting everyday third baseman the Royals have been seeking for years.

Assigned to Harrisburg

[imref]

MiLB has him as our 6th ranked prospect.  Will be interesting to see if they shift him to 1B

[welch]

Baseball Ref: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wallac001cay

[imref]

Did not play over the weekend. Hmmm.

[rileyn]

Did not play over the weekend. Hmmm.

He is injured.

[Slateman]

He is injured.

Yea, we traded for him when he was on the IL. He strained an oblique in June. Would think he is coming back in the next couple weeks though. .. .

[imref]

Thanks

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 22
Team rank: 7
Current level: AA (Not yet reported)

July recap

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

16

|

.286

|

.375

|

.286

|

0

|

1

|

25.0%

|

6.3%

|

.000

|

.661

|

85

Year-to-date (2 levels)
Games played at position
3B: 39
DH: 2

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

161

|

.280

|

.348

|

.406

|

3

|

3

|

18.6%

|

6.2%

|

.126

|

.753

|

111

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Todd Boss over at Nationals Arm Race figured out what was up with Wallace.
https://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=18661

Cayden Wallace at #11 just got dumped to the 60-day DL; per some googling, he has an Oblique Strain and has been out since first week of May. Does that sound like a long time for that injury? We’re at 3 months.

Commenter notes he broke a rib after a HBP while on rehab in early July.

[Slateman]

So his season is done. Got it.

[imref]

Made his debut for Wilmington tonight. 1-1, BB, RBI, R.

[rileyn]

Made his debut for Wilmington tonight. 1-1, BB, RBI, R.

Attaboy

[Slateman]

HE LIVES

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 23
Team rank: 11
Current level: A+ (on rehab assignment)

August recap

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

9

|

.167

|

.444

|

.167

|

0

|

0

|

22.2%

|

33.3%

|

.000

|

.611

|

116

Year-to-date (3 levels)
Games played at position
3B: 41
DH: 3

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

170

|

.275

|

.353

|

.396

|

3

|

3

|

18.8%

|

7.6%

|

.121

|

.749

|

112

[imref]

Of the IL and now in Harrisburg.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Saw him Sunday with Harrisburg in Bowie for the first time.  At the plate, he's clearly rusty and his timing isn't back, so I'll just give him a pass there.  Mechanics and zone discipline looked fine.

Smooth at 3B and Espinosa-level beard shadow, so I'm a fan.  But he's fairly small for 3B (that listed 5'11"/205 is a bit heavy, but the height's right), doesn't look to have the quickness for SS, and I don't see him getting more than 10-15 homer power out of the build and swing.  Not a bad prospect, but not a great one.  I can see why he was worth trading for, though: he's a pretty safe bet to be a below-average starter (call it a 45 grade) at 3B if it turns out they need that. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

There's probably a reason we got both him and the Lomavita pick for Harvey, so some limits are to be expected. From what Elvir is saying, a high floor guy is fine. I hope he gets an AFL assignment to make up for time lost to injury this year.

[blue911]

There's probably a reason we got both him and the Lomavita pick for Harvey, so some limits are to be expected. From what Elvir is saying, a high floor guy is fine. I hope he gets an AFL assignment to make up for time lost to injury this year.

With expanded rosters and a universal DH, platooning becomes viable. The only drawback is you need a Earl Weaver level of intelligence to make it work.


Edit: I think Tito could do it but I don’t have a lot of respect for most managers.