Jeff Wallace
| IP | 137 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.204 |
| WHIP | 1.723 |
| BB/9 | 7.686 |
| SO/9 | 7.883 |
- Full name Jeffrey Allen Wallace
- Born 04/12/1976 in Wheeling, WV
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Minerva
- Debut 08/21/1997
- Drafted in the 25th round (694th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 1995.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: Wallace was picked up from the Royals as part of a six-player trade after the 1996 season and, like Nunez, went from Class A to Pittsburgh the next year. He missed the 1998 season after having reconstructive surgery March, but pitched briefly in instructional league. Strengths: In instructional league, Wallace's radar-gun readings were close to what he hit before the injury--a 97 mph fastball and an 87 mph slider. He has the ideal temperament for a short reliever and he showed outstanding poise and mound presence in the majors in '97. Weaknesses: Major surgery at age 23 leaves a cloud of uncertainty over Wallace's chances for long-term health. Even when healthy, his control has been spotty throughout his career and he sometimes has trouble commanding his slider. He is a bit on the heavy side and will continually have to watch his weight. The Future: Based on the way he threw in instructional league, Wallace has an excellent chance to win a set-up job with the Pirates this season. Lefthanders rarely develop into closers but Wallace has the stuff to become an exception to that rule.
