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Wichita State’s Paxton Wallace signs with Los Angeles Angels

By Jacob Milham

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: The Wichita State Shockers mascot gestures in the second half against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: The Wichita State Shockers mascot gestures in the second half against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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A member of the Wichita State Shockers baseball team is now a professional baseball player and he’s beginning his journey to the major leagues.

Wichita State junior infielder Paxton Wallace has joined the Los Angeles Angels organization on an undrafted free agent contract, according to Wichita State.

Wallace, a third baseman from Greenbrier, Arkansas, capped off his collegiate career with an appearance on the ABCA/Rawlings 2021 NCAA Division I Gold Glove team. He is only the second shocker to receive the award, preceded by Tyler Weber in 2007, which was the inaugural year for the ABCA Gold Glove awards program.

Wallace, who played in all 54 games in 2021, was also a member of the 2021 American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Conference First Team. He excelled at the plate, with a career-high .322 batting average, 11 home runs, and a team-leading 49 RBI in 2021.

Wallace was also a steady defender, committing only six errors and holding a .963 fielding percentage. He finished 2021 third on the team with 113 assists and added 41 putouts.

During his time at Wichita State University, Wallace was able to earn his degree and graduated in May 2021 with his bachelor’s degree in sport management.

Of course, Wallace didn’t simply just earn a degree, he excelled both on the field and in the classroom.

It’s worth noting that Wallace received several accolades during his time with the Wichita State Shockers. That includes Wallace landing on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team every season since 2018.

As he moves on to a professional baseball career, Wallace leaves the Wichita State Shockers baseball program in pretty good position.

The Shockers, this past year, finished third in the AAC with a 31-23 overall record. Wichita State reached record success in 2021, with the third-place finish and 18 conference victories the highest since the Shockers made the move to join the AAC.

Pitcher Aaron Haase was the lone Shocker drafted in the 2021 MLB draft, selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 17th round.

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