If anything punctuates the state of the Reds youth movement, the starting battery, pitcher and catcher, Sunday is an indication or symptom.
The Reds will start a battery with both the pitcher and catcher making their Major League debut.
Tyler Mahle, who has wowed the organization with his progress this season, will be added to the roster and pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
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This is the second time this season the Reds have done that. Pitcher Rookie Davis and catcher Stuart Turner made their debut on April 6.
Mahle, has put together a sensational year that includes a perfect game on April 22. He pitched a no-hitter at High A Daytona on June 13, 2016. He faced the minimum 27 batters but hit a batter, who was later erased, with a pitch.
This season the 22-year old seventh round in 2013 draft by the Reds out of Westminster High School in California, put together a 7-3 record with a 1.59 ERA at Pensacola. He was a Southern League All-Star, his ERA was second in the league, his 87 strikeouts were second, his opponents batting average was second at .190 and his win total was third.
Mahle was promoted to Triple A Louisville on June 22. He was 3-4 with a 2.73 ERA for the Bats in 10 starts.
It was in spring training in which he caught the eye of Reds’ manager Bryan Price in a game in which he gave up a three-run home run to Arizona on February 27.
“Even Tyler Mahle, Tyler gives up a ground ball base hit. There is a pop up that we don’t catch, then a three-run homer. I looked at him, the body, the composure, the delivery, the stuff, he looks like a big leaguer. I know he would have liked to have different results,” Bryan Price said at the time..
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His opinion stands.
“The composure, the presence, the fastball command, the arm action, the repeatable delivery, he just stood out. I remember saying something to Mack (Jenkins). This guy could be competing for a spot on our team this year," Price said on Saturday.
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Wallach joined the Reds along with Anthony DeSclafani in the 2014 trade with Miami for Mat Latos. He caught Reds’ reliever Michael Lorenzen when they were teammates at Cal State - Fullerton.
Wallach, 25, was the Marlins’ fifth round pick in 2013. His father, Tim, has permission to leave the Miami Marlins by Don Mattingly to come to Cincinnati to watch Chad in his debut.
His father got paternity leave which is ironically why Wallach is with the Reds now. Stuart Turner left the team for the birth of his son, late Thursday night. Devin Mesoraco, who also became a father on August 6 is on the disabled list with a broken foot. Tucker Barnhart will be on paternity leave soon as his wife Sierra is due to deliver his first son this weekend.
“I didn’t think he was going to be here because they’re playing,” Wallach said “It’s awesome that he will be able to make it for the game.”
Wallach was hitting .226 in 64 games with nine home runs, 12 doubles, 18 RBI and a stolen base. Wallach has been in the Reds’ spring training camp the last three seasons and has also played firstbase.
“I’m really excited. It will be a good time,” Wallach said. “I’ve caught Tyler a few times last year at Pensacola and a few times this year. He is such a good strike thrower. His stuff keeps getting better. His off speed tough keeps getting better.”
If a pitcher and catcher are starting a game on a new team, in a new town on a higher level, it could be to their advantage to pitch to or catch someone they are comfortable and familiar with.
“It is a good marriage there because he’s the one guy who has familiarity with Tyler,” Price said.
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