Cayden Wallace Is Excited For A Fresh Start With Nationals


After dealing with injuries for most of 2024, third baseman Cayden Wallace looks forward to showing his new organization what he can do when healthy.
“It’s kind of like a new chapter in my life,” Wallace said. “Everyone with the Nationals has been so nice to me, and we’re a super-talented organization from top to bottom. I’m excited to be a part of it. I just want to help them make the playoffs and win another World Series.”
The Nationals liked Wallace enough to acquire him while he was recovering from an injury. On July 13, Washington traded reliever Hunter Harvey to the Royals for Wallace and the 39th overall pick in the 2024 draft, which they used to select California catcher Caleb Lomavita.
“It was shocking,” Wallace said. “I had a broken rib and was home for a few days and was about to go back to Arizona and start my rib rehab.
“The Nationals built my confidence up just by saying how I fit the mold they were looking for,” he said.
The 23-year-old Wallace was a second-round pick in 2022 out of Arkansas. He has a smooth righthanded swing and is an above-average defender with a strong arm.
Last season, he hit .282/350/.427 in 34 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas before going on the injured list when he strained his oblique on a check swing in May. While rehabbing in the Arizona Complex League he was hit by a fastball that fractured a rib.
The injuries were a new challenge for Wallace, who played 130 games in 2023 and started every game at third base in his second year.
“Everyone battles little injuries, but I had never missed that much time,” Wallace said. “It put in perspective how grateful I am to have stayed healthy. Now, I’m building up baseball-wise and workout-wise.”
Wallace struggled in limited action after the trade and played in just three games in the Arizona Fall League.
CAPITAL GAINS
— Former big league outfielder Billy McMillon, who was the development coach at Triple-A Rochester last year, is the new manager at Low-A Fredericksburg. Jake Lowery, who led the FredNats to the Carolina League title in 2024, moves up to Wilmington with many of the same players.
— Matthew LeCroy and Delino DeShields remain the managers at Triple-A Rochester and Double-A Harrisburg, respectively. Mario Lisson, previously the manager at Wilmington, is now the development coach for Rochester. At the Rookie level, Sandy Martinez is still the manager in the Dominican Summer League, while Carmelo Jaime takes over in the Florida Complex League.