Minnesota Made: Matt Wallner

Excitement and adrenaline raced through the veins of Forest Lake High School senior Matt Wallner. A lifelong Twins fan, Wallner was spending a mild June afternoon with family and friends nestled in the comfort of the Target Field Legends Club watching his hometown team.

Yet the excitement wasn’t from the game being played on the field for the Minnesota Mr. Baseball recipient and Southern Miss commit.

A call popped up on Matt’s phone.

“You’ve been selected in the 32nd round of the MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins”

The dream of every youth baseball player growing up in the state of Minnesota had just become a reality for Wallner in the most perfect of settings.

“It was surreal,” Wallner said. “I had played ball with the son of Twins CFO Kip Elliott so he flagged me down and brought me back to the draft room, it was pretty cool.”

The view from Wallner's seat when he found out that he had been drafted by the Twins in 2016

Courtesy of Matt Wallner

Matt Wallner has become a staple in a pool of talented Twins prospects. A stellar pitcher in high school, Wallner’s colors truly shined at the plate, a trait that made his decision to defer his initial contract and play college baseball easy.

“I was drafted as a pitcher in 2016 and I wanted to hit,” Wallner said.

The decision paid off. Wallner clubbed a school record 58 career home runs at Southern Miss and was a three time All-American, numbers that prompted the Twins to keep a keen eye on the Forest Lake native.

Déjà Vu

When the 2019 MLB Draft rolled around the Twins organization didn’t have to look far. With the 39th pick the Twins selected Wallner, this time as an outfielder.

The moment was no less special than Wallner’s first time being selected by the organization. Yet despite the history, Matt had no idea that he would once again link arms with his home state team.

“I had no idea that (the Twins) were going to pick me again,” Wallner said. “I had talked with them a bit during the pre-draft meetings but I had no idea that they’d select me.”

Wallner quickly proved that the pick wasn’t just a coincidence. After an impressive debut with Elizabethton, the 6’5 right fielder was promoted to A affiliate Cedar Rapids. Between the two teams Wallner batted .258 with eight HR and 34 RBI.

Following his successful debut Wallner was named the Twins Daily short season hitter of the year.

Backyard Baseball

Baseball entered Matt’s life at a young age; t-ball in kindergarten, competitive baseball in 5th grade, and a memorable run for the Forest Lake Rangers in high school.

Courtesy of Matt Wallner

Yet his true love of the game didn’t come from travel tournaments or showcases. That love was shaped by hours of backyard baseball with his two brothers.

“Playing baseball at the house with my two brothers was really what got me excited about it,” Wallner recalled.

That excitement was rooted in an additional location; the Metrodome.

“I can remember going to Twins games at the Dome growing up,” Wallner said. “We would go to our friends’ birthday parties there and it was always really exciting.”

Like most, Matt realized that the Dome wasn’t the field of dreams that the organization now has in Target Field. Yet the memories of watching childhood heroes like Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, and Joe Mauer cemented the Metrodome in Wallner’s mental bank of ‘happy places.’

“I can still picture the scoreboard with the lightbulbs on it, no digital graphics at all.”

A Fraternity of Excellence

There’s no doubt that Wallner has a bright future ahead of him in the world of professional baseball. And while there’s a long list of people who’ve helped him pave his journey, a fellow member of Minnesota-native Twins fraternity has played a special role; Brian Raabe.

The current head baseball coach of MIAC staple Bethel, Raabe was a standout infielder for the Gophers and spent 1995-96 with the Twins. A native of New Ulm, Raabe has been a close family friend and mentor to Wallner. Matt was high school teammates with Brian’s son Zach, who is a current star for the Golden Gophers. In fact, Brian was sitting in the Legends Club with Matt when he found out that the Twins had selected him back in 2016.

“Whenever I go home I’ll hit with Zach and Brian is always throwing us BP, so I’m around him all the time,” Wallner said. “He’s been a huge part of my success growing up and a huge mentor. It’s cool to have a guy like that to look up to.”

And while the road ahead will face obstacles and challenges, Wallner has the support system around him to conquer adversity.

“I’m so blessed to have this opportunity. My parents gave me every opportunity growing up. I’ve had so many people, coaches, and mentors that have helped me get here. Kids dream of having the chance to play for their hometown team and I actually have the chance to do it, I’m just trying to make the most of it.”

Twins Daily's Seth Stohs caught up with Matt last week to chat about his baseball journey. Give it a watch!

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