Chad Wallach


Chad Arthur Wallach is an American professional baseball catcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Marlins in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his MLB debut in 2017. He previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds.

Early life and college

Wallach grew up in Orange, California and attended Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana, California. He was selected in the 43rd round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted not to sign in order to play college baseball at Cal State Fullerton. Wallach played three seasons with the Titans, hitting.272 in 102 games. As a junior, Wallach batted.309 with 24 runs scored, 14 doubles, two home runs and 32 RBIs and was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Wallach signed with the Marlins and received a $343,900 bonus and began his professional career with the Short-Season Class-A Batavia Muckdogs, where he hit.226/.294/.267 in 43 games and 146 at bats. He began the 2014 season with the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers and was eventually promoted to the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads, batting.322/.431/.457 between the two teams.

Cincinnati Reds

On December 11, 2014, the Marlins traded Wallach and Anthony DeSclafani to the Cincinnati Reds for Mat Latos. In 2016 for Pensacola he batted.240/.363/.410.
The Reds promoted Wallach to the major leagues for the first time on August 25, 2017. He made his Major League debut on August 27, 2017 in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, starting at catcher and going 0-4 with two strikeouts. During the 2017 season, Wallach played in six games for the Reds and hit.091. Playing for Louisville, he batted.226/.280/.398.

Second stint with Marlins

He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins on November 3, 2017. He began the 2018 season with the Marlins on the Opening Day roster as their backup catcher but was ultimately sent down to the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes after appearing in nine games when J. T. Realmuto was activated off the disabled list. He hit.224 in 147 at bats with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 44 games, as well as.357/.438/.429 in 14 at bats for the GCL Marlins, before being called back up to the Marlins on September 1, 2018. He finished the season batting.178/.275/.267 with one home run and five RBIs in 15 games with the Marlins.
Wallach made the Marlins opening day roster as the team's only backup catcher to start the 2019 season. In 2019 with the Marlins he batted.250/.333/.375 in 48 at bats. Playing for two minor league teams, he was 1-for-10.

Personal life

His father, Tim Wallach, played in Major League Baseball and is a former bench coach for the Miami Marlins.