Former two-way player Wallace continues development in Jays' system

Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Trenton Wallace showcases his unconventional slider grip. The former Iowa Hawkeye is entering his third season with the Blue Jays organization. Photo: Zachary Friedman

March 25, 2023

By Zachary Friedman

Centennial Sports Journalism

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Toronto Blue Jays prospect Trenton Wallace has a unique perspective on the art of pitching.

The 2021 11th round draft pick began his career at the University of Iowa as a two-way player, starting games in the outfield in addition to his responsibilities on the mound.

Now two years into his professional career, Wallace uses his experiences in the batter’s box to give himself an advantage.

“I put myself in the box and try … using my own scouting report against me,” said Wallace outside the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. “If I was in the box, if I was pitching to myself, what would I throw in this situation?”

While Wallace is happy where he is as a full-time pitcher, early in his college career, the 2021 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year saw his career going either way.

An injury resulting in Tommy John Surgery during Wallace’s freshman season left him at a crossroads. A lengthy recovery gave the former Iowa Hawkeye difficulties recapturing his command.

Once he started to get his feel back, Wallace decided to stick with being a two-way performer.

Despite playing 23 games in the field and averaging nearly three plate appearances per game his senior year, on the mound, Wallace emerged as the Hawkeyes’ ace.

The Rock Island, Ill., native started 13 games, finishing with a record of 7-1, striking out a third of the batters he faced, and finished atop the Big Ten Conference with an ERA of 2.34.

Upon being drafted, Wallace made the decision to pitch permanently after a stellar final season at Iowa.

“(The Blue Jays) saw me as a pitcher only, and I was completely okay with it,” Wallace said.

The 23-year-old southpaw noted that focusing on one position made his transition to professional baseball easier.

“Just the more you can focus on pitching, the more my stuff has developed here and with the help of the coaching staff, it's way easier to just solely focus on what needs to be improved as a pitcher,” he said.

Wallace has put up impressive stats with an ERA of 2.55 and averaging 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in the time since being drafted by the Blue Jays. However, there are still areas he knows needs improvement.

“Definitely command. My first full season had some blips with the command. But getting the offspeed fine-tuned as well, that has been helpful throughout.”

While Wallace’s goal is obviously to keep moving up through the system, he stayed humble looking forward to the season ahead.

“My mentality going into the season is just to show up to the ballpark every day and give 100% effort, whether I'm playing or not. And if I can do that and take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves.”