Matt Wallner
Wallner with the St. Paul Saints in 2022
Minnesota Twins – No. 38
Outfielder
Born: (1997-12-12) December 12, 1997
Forest Lake, Minnesota, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 17, 2022, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.244
Home runs16
Runs batted in51
Teams

Matthew John Wallner (born December 12, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Born and raised in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Wallner played three years of college baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi. He finished his collegiate career as Southern Mississippi's all-time home run leader before the Minnesota Twins selected him with the 39th overall selection of the 2019 MLB draft. He played in their minor league system for four years before making his MLB debut in 2022.

Amateur career

Wallner graduated from Forest Lake Area High School in Forest Lake, Minnesota, where he played baseball. As a junior, he committed to play college baseball at the University of North Dakota.[1] However, during his senior year of high school, North Dakota dropped baseball for financial reasons, and he then signed with the University of Southern Mississippi.[2][3] As a senior, he pitched to a 7-1 record with a 0.95 ERA along with batting .382 with ten home runs and was named Minnesota Mr. Baseball.[4][5] Following his senior season, Wallner was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 32nd round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[6] However, he did not sign, and instead chose to honor his commitment to the University of Southern Mississippi.

In 2017, as a freshman at USM, Wallner hit .336 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 66 games. He also appeared in nine games out of the bullpen, compiling a 1.84 ERA.[7] He was named Freshman of the Year by Conference USA (C-USA), Baseball America, and D1Baseball.com.[8][9] He also garnered Freshman Hitter of the Year honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[10] In addition, he was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team as well as the C-USA Second Team, and was also named a Freshman All-American by multiple outlets including the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[11][12] As a sophomore in 2018, Wallner batted .351 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 62 games while pitching to a 7.98 ERA in 14+2⁄3 innings.[13][14] He was named to the C-USA First Team and once again was named an All-American by various publications.[15][16] Following the season, he played for USA Baseball as a member of the Collegiate National Team.[17] He also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Falmouth Commodores.[18][19] Prior to the 2019 season, Wallner was named a preseason All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.[20][21] During the year, he hit his 54th career home run, becoming USM's all-time record holder.[22] Wallner batted .323 with 23 home runs and sixty RBIs for the season, earning a spot on the C-USA First Team.[23][24] He finished his collegiate career with a school record 58 home runs.[25]

Professional career

The Minnesota Twins selected Wallner with the 39th overall pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[26][27] He signed for $1.8 million, and was assigned to the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.[28][29] He was promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single-A Midwest League in August.[30] Over 65 games between the two clubs, Wallner slashed .258/.357/.452 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs.[31] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[32]

To begin the 2021 season, Wallner returned to Cedar Rapids, now members of the High-A Central.[33] In late May, he was placed on the injured list with a right wrist sprain.[34] It was later revealed that he broke a hamate bone and required surgery.[35] He was activated on July 20.[36] Over 68 games with Cedar Rapids, Wallner slashed .265/.350/.504 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.[37] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions after the season.[38] Wallner was assigned to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Texas League to begin the 2022 season.[39] He was selected to represent the Twins at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game.[40] In mid-July, he was promoted to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A International League.[41] Over 128 games played between Wichita and St. Paul, he slashed .277/.412/.541 in 458 at bats with 27 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 32 doubles, and was third in the minor leagues with 97 walks.[42][43]

On September 17, the Twins selected Wallner's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[44] He made his MLB debut that night, hitting a solo home run off of Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians for his first MLB hit.[45]

Wallner was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the 2023 season.[46] He was called up to the majors for the first time in early April and went hitless in six games between April 8–15. He was recalled from Triple-A again on May 23 after Trevor Larnach contracted pneumonia.[47]

References

  1. ↑ "USM's Matt Wallner: The real deal". Mississippi Today. March 22, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ "College choice unraveled, Forest Lake ace Wallner keeps impressing". StarTribune. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Prep baseball signee leaning toward USM". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  4. ↑ "East Metro baseball player of the year: Matt Wallner of Forest Lake". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. June 15, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Forest Lake's Matt Wallner named Mr. Baseball". MN Baseball Hub. July 2, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Wallner's Draft experience means going to a game". MLB.com. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  7. ↑ "AP: Southern Miss star Matt Wallner 'could be the best two-way player in the nation'". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Baseball America tabs Southern Miss' Matt Wallner as top freshman". Sun Herald. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Southern Miss' Matt Wallner named national Freshman of the Year, again". Sun Herald. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "USM's Wallner named nation's top freshman". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  11. ↑ Isbell, Tim. "Southern Miss baseball dominates C-USA postseason honors". sunherald.
  12. ↑ "Southern Miss' Matt Wallner picks up another honor". Sun Herald. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Matt Wallner thrives in first two college seasons". The 3rd Man In. January 29, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Southern Miss baseball 2019: All-star roster, Matt Wallner key for 'rebuilding' season". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  15. ↑ "BASE: 2018 Awards Announced". Conference USA.
  16. ↑ Haeger, Jeff (December 17, 2018). "USM's Matt Wallner named All-American".
  17. ↑ "Southern Miss star Matt Wallner named to USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  18. ↑ "#44 Matt Wallner". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Matt Wallner Making The Most Of Summer In The Cape Cod League". Baseball America. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  20. ↑ "How does All-American's Matt Wallner's injury affect the Golden Eagles?". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  21. ↑ "USM's Wallner selected preseason All-America". WDAM 7. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Matt Wallner becomes USM's home run king". Baseball America. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  23. ↑ June 4, 2019 - 1am, Brad Elliot Schlossman (June 4, 2019). "Twins draft one-time UND baseball recruit No. 39 overall; would have been program's highest-ever pick". Grand Forks Herald.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "Matt Wallner Becomes Highest Ever Drafted Golden Eagle with Pick by Twins". Southern Miss.
  25. ↑ By. "'I wouldn't change one thing.' Southern Miss' Matt Wallner drafted by hometown team". sunherald.
  26. ↑ "Former Forest Lake pitcher-turned-hitter Matt Wallner realizes dream of being drafted by Twins — twice". Star Tribune.
  27. ↑ Helf, Betsy; Bhelf (June 4, 2019). "Twins draft collegian Matt Wallner of Forest Lake with No. 39 pick".
  28. ↑ "Wallner, Twins come to terms".
  29. ↑ "Twins, Wallner found common ground three years later".
  30. ↑ "Baseball News".
  31. ↑ "10 Names You Need to Know - Minnesota Twins". July 25, 2020.
  32. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled".
  33. ↑ "Cedar Rapids Kernels 2021 opening-night roster announced".
  34. ↑ "Twins' Matt Wallner: Out with wrist injury".
  35. ↑ "Opponents in constant danger of striking out versus Twins pitching prospect Vallimont".
  36. ↑ "Twins' Matt Wallner: Returns from IL".
  37. ↑ "Forest Lake's Matt Wallner among Twins prospects headed to Arizona Fall League". October 6, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Arizona Fall League rosters 2021 prospect loaded". MLB.com.
  39. ↑ "Seven Twins Top-30 Prospects Highlight Wichita Roster".
  40. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (July 7, 2022). "Here are the 2022 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Matt Wallner promoted to Triple-A St. Paul".
  42. ↑ "Forest Lake's Matt Wallner makes big impression in Twins debut". September 17, 2022.
  43. ↑ "2022 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  44. ↑ "Twins put Kepler on IL, call up Forest Lake native Matt Wallner". September 17, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Minnesota kid Wallner homers for 1st MLB hit". MLB.com.
  46. ↑ "Twins' Matt Wallner: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Twins place Trevor Larnach on 10-day injured list". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
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