May 28, 2023

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

When Chad Wallach was a toddler and then got older in Yorba Linda, Calif., he had someone special helping him out, playing pepper, throwing short and long toss and showing him how to handle the bat.

That was Tim Wallach, the long-time Montreal Expos third baseman with 12-plus seasons of service time with the club.

When his son needed direction, Tim gave it to him. When he needed a path to choose, he made suggestions.

"I worked out with my dad and my two brothers and we'd never really get rained out of anything,'' Wallach, a platoon catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, was telling me in an interview. "My dad taught us all the fundamentals. There'd be ground balls and hitting in the cage. Working with my dad was pretty cool.

"It's been super special following in his footsteps. I went to Cal State-Fullerton like my dad. There are so many memories. It's been a blast. I'm playing now for the same team my Dad played for (1996). I live in Anaheim Hills which is about 10 minutes from our home park.

“It's incredible. There are a lot of father-son big leaguers. It’s pretty neat and cool to play in the same stadium as my dad played in and meet some of the players (Tim's teammates).’’

Chad was four years old when Tim played for both the Angels and Dodgers in 1996. Chad was eager to follow his dad to be a first baseman or third baseman but when he got to Cal State-Fullerton, his coach recommended a position change. It was all for the good.

"Coach said, 'Either you catch or you are not going to play,' '' Chad said. "You kinda learn things on the fly. It obviously has been better for my career. Looking back, definitely, it was the right move.''

Wallach has been platooning with Matt Thaiss this season and he said there has been no discussion between him and manager Phil Nevin about when he will play or if his playing time will increase.

"As far as I know, I just go in and hope to see my name in the lineup,'' Wallach said. "We both go in there hoping to play.''

Although it's early, Wallach will hopefully stay with the Angels the remainder of the season but knowing he has been up and down from the minors for a few years he isn't taking anything for granted. He has had stops with the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins.

"I hope so,'' he said of staying with the Angels. "You never know what's going to happen. You can't get ahead of yourself. You work hard and put in your work. It gives me appreciation for all the time I've been in the league. I hope I’m here the whole time. My dad's advice is to always have fun, not to get too up or too down,'' Chad said.

Wallach made his debut with the Reds Aug. 27, 2017 as the starting catcher and it was some momentous occasion.

“It was incredible. I will never forget it,’’ he said. “I was in Indianapolis when I got the call. I drove to Cincinnati. It’s about an hour and a half way. My family was able to make it. Having them there in the stands was really special. There were a lot of nerves. All my brothers and my mom and dad were there. It was unbelievable moment. It’s what you work for.’’

Wallach, who fills out solidly at 246 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame, started this season at triple-A Salt Lake City but was recalled April 21.

In one of his first games back in the majors, he slugged a home run and caught for the great Shohei Ohtani, one of the thrills of his career. He has three homers so far in 2023.

"That game is right up there. That was a good one,’’ he said. “It's fun every time catching Shohei. It's been an awesome opportunity to catch him a few times. I also hit a three-run home run and caught Reid Detmers in his no-hitter last year. That also was a big game for me.’’

Keep up the good work, Chad, and we’ll be following you in the boxscores.

Danny Gallagher’s new Expos called Around The Horn is available at Amazon.