The Astros select 6'0" 205lb Christopher Wallace (Biggie!), a catcher out of the University of Houston.
Wallace joins Ben Heath - drafted earlier - on the Johnny Bench Award watch list.
He batted .291/.388/.486 for the Cougars in 2010, starting 50 games, striking out 57 times with 23 walks, and led the team by getting hit six times.
Back in April 2009, Wallace was hit by A&M pitcher (and 2010 1st round pick) Barret Loux in the Houston Baseball Classic at Minute Maid Park.
Duarte:
Five plates, 41 screws and four home runs later, Wallace has made the kind of made-for-TV comeback that has been nothing short of miraculous.
Reporting on the injury, Baseball America wrote:
Wallace is a good-looking player, and I heard one American League area scout say he likes Wallace as a prospect. Wallace has a sturdy catcher’s build and has done very sound work behind the plate. He also blasted two opposite-field home runs in Houston’s first game of the weekend against Baylor.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
