Brewers 2022 MLB Draft Prospect Profile: Arkansas 3B Cayden Wallace

As we approach the 2022 MLB Draft, Reviewing the Brew will profile several of the top draft prospects that could find themselves selected by the Milwaukee Brewers. Let’s take a look at Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace.

The Brewers could use some third base depth in the organization. When it comes to the team’s farm system, they are stacked with outfielders and pitchers. When it comes to corner infielders; not so much.

Right now, their top third base prospect is Zavier Warren. The 23-year-old is ranked number 17 within the org and currently with the Timber Rattlers. He also can play first base, and was a third-round pick in 2020.

Their second-highest prospect is Gabe Holt. He is currently with the Biloxi Shuckers, and a seventh round pick in 2019. Adding a first-round corner infielder is a spot the team could definitely improve on if presented.

If he’s on the board, should the Milwaukee Brewers draft Arkansas 3B Cayden Wallace with the 27th overall pick?

The short answer is yes. The 20-year-old has some serious power potential. Milwaukee could definitely use some more of that, but you also can’t decide on draft picks based on the team’s current needs. Luckily, the team also needs some solid depth at third base and the corner infielder spots.

Wallace is a righty in the field and when he comes to the plate. The Arkansas native comes from an athletic family. His brother, Paxton Wallace, played baseball at Wichita State. He went undrafted, but did get signed and played for the Inland Empire 66ers, and minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Cayden’s father, Mike Wallace, played football at Central Arkansas.

The Brewers have made it a priority to add good clubhouse players, and Wallace appears to be no different. His faith is very important to him and his family, and uses that to be a good person on-and-off the field. In a recent interview, his mother Christy Wallace, said “We want our boys to be great ball players, but we want them to be even better people”. That’s the kind of players you want in your system.

During the 2022 season, Cayden had a .257 batting average, 16 home runs, 60 RBIs and 18 doubles over 63 games over his sophomore year. His freshman year, he won Second Team Baseball America Freshman All-American, Freshman All-SEC, SEC Co-Freshman of the Week twice in April 2021 and SEC Freshman of the Week on May 24th, 2021.

MLB.com has Wallace listed as draft prospect number 37 currently.

Wallace has plenty of power. He had six home runs and 11 RBIs his last nine games. Those numbers helped keep Arkansas in the top 10 rankings and helped them advance in the College World Series this year. Arkansas was eliminated by Ole Miss on June 20th. He went 0-3, but that wasn’t the case in their 17-2 win over Stanford. Wallace went 3-6 with three RBIs, a double and a home run.

He does have some swing and miss and concerns. MLB teams could be afraid of the offensive consistency and been compared to a player like Keston Hiura. Tremendous upside and potential, but possible issues if he doesn’t make contact.

Those concerns have some experts predicting him to drop to the early second round. But the Brewers could grab him if still available at 27 since their infield depth could definitely use a boost, and a potential power-hitting corner infielder never hurts.