Wallace returns to Classic Park, Captains

Dave Wallace briefly returns to Classic Park to help out as a coach for the Captains, for whom he caught and was later their manager in 2012 when Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez were on the roster.

Dave Wallace was on familiar ground May 1 as fillin coach for the Captains in their series opener against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Wallace, the special assistant for catching on the Indians’ player development staff, handled the first-base coaching duties for substitute manager Kyle Hudson.

Hudson, normally the bench coach, was filling as Captains manager Luke Carlin takes a brief respite in Texas with his wife Kimberley and their two daughters.

Wallace smiled when asked how it felt to be back in the ballpark he helped open in April 2003 as an All-Star catcher for the Captains during their inaugural season in Eastlake.

“It’s always very cool to come back here,” Wallace said after the Captains absorbed a 10-5 loss in the opener of a six-game homestand.

When his minor-league playing days ended in 2008, Wallace joined the Indians staff for the 2009 and 2010 seasons as bullpen assistant coach. He made his minor-league managerial debut with short-season Single-A Carolina in 2013 and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks from 2014 to 2016.

After managing Akron to the Eastern League title in 2016, Wallace elected to take a step away from managing. He wanted to spend more time with his wife Lauren, daughter Lakely and son Stratton at the family’s home in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Indians retained Wallace’s services in 2017 as a special assignment coach. This season, he is working with catchers at all levels of the Indians’ minor-league system. He said he spends “about half” his time on the road and the other half at home.

“I’m grateful to the Indians for giving me the chance to still be involved.” Wallace said.

Wallace said he plans to manage again but has no timetable for a return.

The serier opener went sour quickly for the home team as the Timber Rattliers raced to a 9-0 lead after four innings. It was a rugged outing for Lake County starter and eventual loser Francisco Perez (1-1, 7.00 ERA). He surrendered nine runs, all earned, in threeplus innings.

Captains outfielder Will Benson smacked a threerun home run to trigger a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Captains slipped to 11-12 with the loss. Wisconsin improved to 8-16.