One of the forgotten contributors to the Los Angeles Angels season was veteran catcher Chad Wallach and the 12 games he appeared in with the club, which included having a hand in history.
After spending his prior four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Miami Marlins, outside of a quick stint with the L.A. Dodgers, the Angels scooped Wallach up off waivers late in the 2021 season. He began this past year with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees but earned a call-up to MLB for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays on May 9.
Wallach made his debut in the opening game of that series and factored into the 11-run scoring outburst after a bases-loaded walk brought him home in the seventh inning. But one night later he made his second start for the Angels, catching rookie left-hander Reid Detmers’ first-career no-hitter.
Calling the game wasn’t his only contribution to the historic night, he also added a three-run homer that padded an eventual 12-0 win over the Rays.
Wallach would end up batting .143 during his short time in MLB with the Angels last season, but he earned the praise of former Angels manager Joe Maddon for how he conducted himself and was a positive note during a tumultuous time.
On the season in Triple-A, he posted a .665 on-base plus slugging, including nine home runs and 43 runs batted in.
Chad Wallach 2022 highlight
Wallach left his mark on the Angels this past season by being the plate for Detmers’ no-hitter, but also flashed a bit of his bat. Being a six-year MLB backup catcher, not known for his offense, any ability to impact a game from the batter’s box is welcomed.
2023 outlook
With a decent crop of catchers at the big league level, the Angels designated Wallach for assignment at season’s end, and he elected free agency instead of accepting his option to Triple-A.
In November, Wallach and the Angels agreed to a Minor League deal bringing him back ahead of the 2023 regular season.
He will likely serve as organizational depth and a veteran presence to help teach the younger players at the Triple-A level, and he could see some time at the Major League level if the Angels are in need of a catcher.
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