Arkansas lands Greenbrier third baseman Cayden Wallace
Editor’s note: With the No. 47 pick, the Kansas City Royals selected Cayden Wallace in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft on July 17.
GREENBRIER, Ark. (BVM) — With the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft taking place less than a month ago, talented prospects across the country had their dreams of being drafted fulfilled. One of those players who did not get to hear their name called was Cayden Wallace. The only player from Greenbrier High School to win Gatorade Arkansas Baseball Player of the Year, Wallace now looks to maximize his efforts at Arkansas University.
At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Wallace may surprise some folks in the baseball community. Combining his 2019 statistics with the 2020 shortened season, he hit .510, hammered seven home runs, drove in 29 runs and stole 22 bases. Before their year was cut short, the Panthers held a 6-2 record.
According to Perfect Game, Wallace is the No. 25 prospect in the nation. He was selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game, joining a large pool of young talent from around the country. Wallace is committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas after going undrafted in June.
Wallace is just as special off the field as he is on the field. In the classroom, Wallace sustained a 3.73 GPA. He also has volunteered time to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Wooster First Baptist Church.
“Cayden Wallace is one of the most talented players ever to play in this state,” Arkansas Prospects Baseball Academy head coach Andy Medard said in a Gatorade press release. “He has all the tools to be successful in college and professional baseball. He demonstrates leadership, faith and promotes team unity with his actions and words. Not only is he the most talented player in the state, he is also one of the best kids.”
Wallace joins a successful baseball program at Arkansas. The Razorbacks finished 2019 ranked No. 7 in the nation and with a 46-20 record (20-10 SEC). Arkansas made it to Omaha for the College World Series, but was eventually knocked out by Florida State.
Not only will Wallace have the chance to play for his home state with the Razorbacks, but he also has the privilege of playing for one of the best coaches in baseball, Dave Van Horn. Van Horn has been the head coach of the Razorbacks since 2003 and has a total winning percentage of .651. Cayden Wallace will help boost that once he hits the field in Fayetteville.
Wallace also finds himself among the top 100 MLB prospects. Back in April, MLB.com had him ranked No. 80. He was projected to be an early-round draft pick, but the 2020 draft was cut to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He will aim to move up that list as he spends more time developing in college.
At the age of 18, Cayden has a ton of potential. The competition at the next level will be challenging, but great players step up and deliver when the lights are the brightest, and that’s what Wallace will try to do for Arkansas.
