HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Baseball added two more names to Major League Baseball rosters when former Lion stars Colson Lawrence and Will Varmette were drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft.
“It’s always exciting when our players at Wallace State get the opportunity to play professional baseball,” said Coach Randy Putman. “Both Will and Colson put in the hard work to have this opportunity during their two years in Hanceville and now they will be able to fulfill a life-long dream of possibly playing one day in the major leagues. It will definitely be exciting to watch these two guys progress through their organizations in the next few years. They both have bright futures and a lot to look forward to.”
Colson Lawrence – Miami Marlins
A former two-way standout for the WSCC Baseball team, Colson Lawrence was drafted in the 13th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. Lawrence, a current South Alabama baseball team member, played on the 2021 and 2022 WSCC baseball team. In 2021, Lawrence hit .373 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 46 runs scored, and had an on base percentage of .426. Lawrence also contributed on the mound by tossing the first perfect game in Wallace State history.
Lawrence followed up his standout freshman year with an impressive sophomore year as well, where he hit .368, with nine doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, and 47 RBI.
Over his two years at WSCC, Lawrence was earned 2021 and 2022 Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) All-South District as well as All-North honors.
Will Varmette – San Diego Padres
Fresh off of a 2023 graduation at Wallace State, Will Varmette was picked up in MLB Free Agency by the San Diego Padres organization. Varmette, a Huntsville native, is coming off of a very successful two years at Wallace State where he was a consistent starter for the Lions. He racked up 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings of work. He got a career-high six strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work against Lincoln Trail College.
Varmette was originally recruited and signed to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., before being picked up by the Padres organization.
38 Major League players from WSCC
The pair make the 37th and 38th players coached by WSCC Coach Randy Putman to make it to the major leagues.
Other Wallace State players in the MLB include current Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Craig Kimbrell, a 9-time All-Star, World Series champ and the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year; Oakland Athletics reliever Chad Smith; former MLB infielder Jake Elmore who is now with Philadelphia Phillies organization as an instructor; former MLB pitchers Derek Holland and Graham Godfrey; and Zelous Wheeler, who, in 2014, became the fifth former Wallace State player in six seasons to make his MLB debut; former major league outfielder Terry Jones, who played for the Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies; and Blake Rivera, who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 4th round of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft, becoming the second-highest draft pick in Wallace State baseball history next to Kimbrel (3rd round, 2008). He’s currently pitching for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.
