Forrest Wall
Wall with the Gwinnett Stripers in 2023
Atlanta Braves – No. 73
Outfielder
Born: (1995-11-20) November 20, 1995 (age 28)
Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 22, 2023, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.462
Home runs1
Runs batted in2
Stolen bases5
Teams

Forrest Alexander Wall (born November 20, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies and made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2023.

Career

Amateur career

Wall attended Orangewood Christian High School in Maitland, Florida.[1][2] A four-year starter on the baseball team, he batted .461 with nine home runs, 70 runs batted in (RBIs), and 70 stolen bases in 79 games played.[3]

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies chose Wall with the 35th overall selection in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He signed with the Rockies and made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies,[5][6] where he posted a .318 batting average with three home runs and 24 RBIs, along with 18 stolen bases. In 2015, Wall played 99 games for the Asheville Tourists and four games for the Boise Hawks while on a rehab assignment. Wall ended 2015 with a .286 batting average along with seven home runs and 47 RBIs.

Prior to the 2016 season, MLB.com named him the 4th best second base prospect in baseball.[7] Wall spent 2016 with the Modesto Nuts, where he posted a .264 batting average with six home runs and 56 RBIs. He started 2017 with the Lancaster JetHawks where he batted .299 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .832 OPS in 22 games[8] before a dislocated shoulder forced him to miss the remainder of the season.[9] Wall began the 2018 season with Lancaster before receiving a promotion to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats.

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 26, 2018, the Rockies traded Wall, Chad Spanberger, and either a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Toronto Blue Jays for Seung-hwan Oh.[10][11] Wall finished out the season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, hitting .271/.354/.380 in 35 games. In 2019, Wall split the season between New Hampshire and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, slashing .268/.351/.422 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI in 123 games between the two teams. Wall did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] He elected free agency on November 2, 2020. On December 15, 2020, Wall re-signed with the Blue Jays on a minor league contract and was invited to Spring Training.[13] In 2021, Wall spent the year with Triple-A Buffalo, posting a slash of .266/.343/.360 with 1 home run and 20 RBI in 78 games. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.[14]

Seattle Mariners

On March 14, 2022, Wall signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to Spring Training.[15] Wall played in 120 games for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, batting .255/.333/.354 with 6 home runs, 41 RBI, and a league-leading 52 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[16]

Atlanta Braves

On January 30, 2023, Wall signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization.[17] In 78 games for the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, he hit .258/.360/.399 with 6 home runs, 38 RBI, and 45 stolen bases. On July 18, Wall was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[18][19] On July 22, Wall made his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers as a pinch runner, stealing two bases.[20] Against the New York Mets on August 12, Wall recorded his first career hit off Danny Mendick.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Etkin, Jack (June 7, 2018). "Forrest Wall Improves On Both Sides Of Ball". Baseball America. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "High school sports news: Orangewood signings". West Orange Times & Observer. February 15, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Orangewood Christian baseball stars make big news". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rockies Conclude Day One of Draft by Selecting Forrest Wall and Ryan Castellani". Colorado Rockies. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Orangewood Christian slugger Forrest Wall officially signs with Colorado Rockies". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  6. ^ Orlando Sentinel (June 20, 2014). "Former Orangewood infielder receives $2 million bonus from Rockies". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "2016 Prospect Watch: Top 10 second basemen". MLB.com. January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Forrest Wall Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Rockies prospect Forrest Wall injured and out for season, per report". Purple Row. 25 May 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  10. ^ "Rockies boost bullpen, add Oh in deal with Blue Jays". Reuters. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Chisholm, Gregor (July 26, 2018). "Blue Jays get 2 prospects from Rockies for Oh". MLB.com. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com.
  13. ^ "Blue Jays Sign Tyler White, Forrest Wall to Minors Contracts".
  14. ^ "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents for All 30 MLB Teams".
  15. ^ "Mariners Extend 24 Invitations to Major League Spring Training". 14 March 2022.
  16. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Braves make a flurry of minor league free agent signings, including an old friend". yardbarker.com. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  18. ^ "Braves place Kolby Allard on 60-day IL with shoulder inflammation". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Beazley, Colin. "Braves place Kolby Allard on 60-day IL, call up Forrest Wall". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  20. ^ Toscano, Justin. "Winans, Wall both have impact in debuts but Braves lose to Brewers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-23.

External links

Atlanta Braves current roster
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