The Keepers - #1 - RHSP - Zack Wheeler

1.             Zack Wheeler     RHP  

6-3, 180 - Dallas, Ga. - drafted 1st round 2009 by SF

2010 - A-ball - 3-3, 3.99, 58.2-IP, 70-K

Fastball – Sits mostly in the 91 – 94 range, but can get as high as 95 or 96 in short spurts…tremendous life…gets on hitters quickly as it explodes out of his hand…will run into lefties and away from right handed batters…terrific carry through the strike zone, indicating plenty of arm strength…Wheeler has said he features two fastballs — a two-seamer and four-seamer

Slider – Hard slider is more like a slurve…comes out of his hand looking like his fastball and travels on a similar plane as well, which you can see in the below clip…the pitch breaks a little early, so it could use some tightening, but the break has some snap to it and will generate plenty of swings-and-misses.

Change-Up – Below average at the moment…doesn’t get enough differentiation from his fastball velocity to really get hitters off balance. When you contrast that with Jacob Turner’s change-up, even though he doesn’t throw the pitch very often, I’ve never seen it described as anything worse than “developing”. That’s one of the differences between Turner and Wheeler.

Mechanics - Wheeler’s mechanics are a bit herky-jerky. Pitchers with herky-jerky mechanics will often times make hitters less comfortable in the box, make it more difficult for hitters to pick up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and make it tougher for hitter’s to time a pitcher’s release. - http://www.baseball-intellect.com/scouting-zack-wheeler/

Fastball: At 94-96 MPH, Wheeler’s fastball exploded on top of Sand Gnats hitters. His long stride created excellent downward plane with a touch of arm side fade. In this outing, he appeared to be rearing back trying to light up the radar gun instead of working to command the pitch. With only an inning to showcase his stuff, it’s easy to understand why. The fastball may already be a plus offering and has plus-plus potential with improved command.


Curveball: Thrown in the low-80′s, Wheeler’s curveball is a harder offering than I normally see at the level. With tight, sharp break, the pitch exhibits wipeout potential in the bullpen. although he hung it a couple of times in game action, Wheeler creates plenty of depth with enough glove side run to make it more of a 11-5 offering.

Changeup: A third offering with plenty of potential, Wheeler’s changeup features some arm side run and a good amount of velocity separation from the fastball. However, in reviewing his side angle video, I was able to pick up on a slight slowing of his arm action which will have to be corrected.

While it’s not easy producing a report off of a single inning of relief work, I felt it important to let readers know Wheeler is still a fantastic prospect even after missing a couple of months due to injury. Wheeler had a definite “wow” factor which the overwhelming majority of prospects simply do not have. Behind Julio Teheran, he’s the second best pitcher I have ever seen at the level and has true impact starter upside. I look forward to seeing him again in a couple of weeks in what I hope will be for multiple innings.  -  http://scoutingthesally.com/zack-wheeler-san-francisco-giants-baseball-prospect-scouting-report-video/

5-23-11: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/05/23/zack-wheeler-scouting-report - Wheeler has two pitches that could surface as plus, in his fastball and curveball. The changeup I saw doesn't look like it will be more than a slightly above-average pitch. He could use more seasoning with his changeup as well as his command, but he could be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues tomorrow. His upside, which he could still be 3-4 years from reaching, is as a very good No. 2 starter and maybe even an ace for stretches of time. Every young pitcher comes with a good amount of injury risk, but Wheeler's mechanics make him an unlikely bet to avoid major arm injuries over the next five years. Hopefully he can stay healthy, mature into his frame, sharpen his command and get a chance to face big-league hitters. Wheeler is a treat to watch and one of the higher upside arms in the minors.

7-28-11: - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2011/index.jsp - Scouting report: The Giants' first-round pick in 2009 is was a Futures Gamer in 2010, his first full season. He features a heavy fastball that he can run into the mid-90s with a vastly improved breaking ball and a changeup that has developed well this year. He's a much better pitcher after an up-and-down first full year that was interrupted by a fingernail problem, though he's still working on refining his command. Still, at age 21 and in the California League, he's ahead of the curve.

7-29-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6079 - The PG scouting report filed after the National Showcase read: “(Wheeler) pitched 90-93 topping at 94 with a very lively fastball and little to no effort in the Metrodome. He gets good extension out front and has an excellent breaking ball with a sharp break in the upper 70s. He commands his pitches well and everything looks easy for him on the mound. Wheeler continues to project … and he is already one of the top 2009 RHP in the country.”

7-29-11: - http://bullpenbanter.com - Wheeler's stuff is top notch.  His final pitching line was ugly:  5 1/3 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's, but the takeaway was that Wheeler has the stuff to pitch at the front of a major league rotation.  The videos above will show that he can make pretty drastic adjustment to his delivery and I expect him to continue to make progress which will lead to improved command/control.  The development of the change will be the main thing to keep an eye on in his development as he looks for a pitch to neutralize left handed hitters.  Keep in mind that he has only logged 146 2/3 professional innings.  There aren't a lot of minor league pitchers that have his type of upside.  I was very surprised that Wheeler was traded for a playoff run "rental".  These types of prospects aren't often traded.

8-1-11: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/07/31/top-10-trade-deadline-prospects -   Zack Wheeler SP: New York Mets straight up for Carlos Beltran - We saw other teams trade big leaguers for quantity over quality -- like Houston trading Michael Bourne for a gaggle of replacement level players -- but in the Carlos Beltran deal Mets' GM Sandy Alderson swung for the fences. Wheeler is one of the very few prospects traded who could end up being a difference maker and represents excellent value for a few month rental, even a player as good as Beltran. An elite high schooler, in a draft replete with prep talent, Wheeler has lived up to expectations as the former sixth overall pick. He has struck out over 25% of batters he's faced in each of his professional stops, working off a fastball with plus movement and velocity as well as a potentially plus curveball. The changeup and command need to improve. His motion is a bit unusual and potentially a cause for concern, but Wheeler slightly augments the length in his arm action with excellent leg drive, stride length and hip rotation. Wheeler's still a few years off and carries significant risk, but is an excellent gamble for the Mets.

8-1-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - Zack Wheeler has the kind of frame that scouts everywhere love to dream on. He’s a lanky 6-4, 180 (lanky, but athletic – Wheeler can get above the rim and throw down 360 dunks) with plenty of room to fill out, and, if things go according to plan, capable of adding some serious velocity. If Wheeler was throwing in the high-80s, he’d be a very intriguing prospect based on the prospect of physical maturity and increased heat alone. However, the kid is already sitting comfortably in the low-90s (91-92) and has hit 94-95 MPH on the gun out of the bullpen at the summer showcases. Add a couple of ticks to that fastball and you are really on to something. Wheeler’s very good curve, power slider, and burgeoning splitter all complement the fastball well.

8-7-11: - Stick Up – Zack Wheeler passed his latest test with flying colors: 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 7-K, 0-BB. He now has 102-K in 92,0 innings and it’s becoming obvious that he will easily move on the Binghamton at the beginning of next season. What a great trade (did I tell you that Beltran is day-to-day with the Giants?).

8-15-11: - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/08/15/colemans-corner-the-latest-word-on-mets-prospect-zack-wheeler  - Zack Wheeler seems to be adjusting quite nicely to his new surroundings. Though he suffered the loss in his last start on Saturday — Wheeler is now 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets — he’s making progress with his revamped delivery and seems to have settled in with his new teammates. Wheeler has a big arm and a great fastball, but experienced control problems before the trade while with Single-A San Jose in the San Francisco Giants organization. He issued 47 walks in 88 innings, and decided to change his mechanics back to his high school delivery, placing his hands up higher along with a high leg kick, before his final two starts with San Jose. The adjustment, says Wheeler, has obviously worked.

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f - Top five Met prospects -  Sunday, October 9, 2011 - The Record - 2. Zack Wheeler, RHP, 21 (31 K’s, five walks in six starts for Class A St. Lucie): The return in the Carlos Beltran deal. Might have a higher ceiling than Harvey, but still raw and probably a year behind.

 10-15-11: - I moved Wheeler ahead of Matt Harvey… he simply is the top prospect right now.

10-19-11: - Zack Wheeler, dealt straight up for Carlos Beltran at the 2011 Trade Deadline, is the New York Mets’ top prospect according to mlb.com.  The New York Mets’ top prospect ended the season with 129 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA in 115 innings.  Even more encouraging is that Zack Wheeler finished the year on fire after earning a promotion to High-A.  I was a little bit surprised that Matt Harvey did not receive the New York Mets’ No. 1 spot after advancing to Double-A in his first professional season, but he was No. 2 on the list so its not like he got shafted or anything.  According to the mlb.com article, Zack Wheeler is working with a four-pitch arsenal – your basic fastball, change-up, slider and curve quartet.  Its still a work in progress, but if he can find consistency with his secondary offerings his repertoire will take a step forward from the fastball, change-up, slurve trio he was previously working with.  Not only is he adding more pitches to his arsenal, but according to Paul DePodesta, the New York Mets’ director of player development, Wheeler was up to 99 mph with his heater.  The high octane combined with the improved secondary stuff and improved command (only five walks in 27 High-A innings) has me excited and I’m sure I can say the same for New York Mets fans everywhere.  This won’t be the last I say about Zack Wheeler this offseason - http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-mets/2011/10/18/zack-wheeler-ends-2011-as-the-new-york-mets-top-prospect

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects  - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects - 2.Zack Wheeler, RHP (High Class A): Even though, statistically speaking (3.75 FIP), there may have been stronger pitchers out there, Wheeler has fantastic upside. His hard low-to-mid 90s tailing fastball gets on hitters quick, a pitch that sets up a quality hard breaking curve. As long as he brings down his 4.81 bb/9 IP in 2012, Wheeler should be well on his way to carving up AA hitting with an already strong 10+/9 IP strikeout rate. Only 21, his 1.68 FIP in 6 post-Beltran-trade starts show how good he can be when he keeps the walk totals low.

11-26-11: - http://seedlingstostars.com - Zack Wheeler - Wheeler made some nice strides this season, and his arsenal of pitches suggests that he could evolve into a well-above-average starting pitcher, but he’ll need to prove a) that he can hold up for a full season and b) that he can maintain his control for a whole season. His immediate improvement upon switching organizations is a positive sign, and he looks like a great acquisition for a Mets team that is still building toward the future. There’s obvious upside here, and if he can erase the two lingering concerns about him in 2012, Wheeler could become one of the top pitching prospects in the game.

1-3-12 - http://mets360.com/?p=8885&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mets360%2Ffeed+%28Mets360+Feed%29  - 2. Zack Wheeler, SP, Hi-A, 9-7, 3.52 ERA, 129 Ks in 115 IP - It’s a coin flip who to rank first and who to put second with the team’s top prospects. Wheeler has the edge with raw stuff but his control is an issue. In 2010, he had a 5.83 BB/9 and last year before being acquired by the Mets he had a 4.81 BB/9. But the Giants had Wheeler deploy a new windup. He went back to his old delivery and in 27 IP with the Mets he had just 5 BB. But are his control issues over or is that just a small sample size illusion? If Wheeler puts up a sub-2.0 BB/9 then he is hands down the top prospect in the system and likely one of the top prospects in baseball. I just want to see him do it over a longer period of time.

1-4-12: - http://baseballprospectnation.com  - Zack Wheeler - Body: Ideal height with long, lanky limbs and plenty of room to add mass with increased strength. Shows good athleticism and body control throughout delivery.  Makeup: Shows a mature demeanor on the mound, rarely getting rattled. Very competitive with an aggressive style. Reports indicate he works diligently between starts.  Delivery/Mechanics: Moves quickly through delivery and maintains outstanding balance over the rubber. Drops and drives with easy movements toward the plate. Has a loose, lightning quick arm action. Long arms add deception with extended release point. Finishes in a balanced position, facing home plate. Good athlete that gets off the mound well to field his position and cover first.  Fastball (FB) Velocity (Wind-up): High – 97, Low – 91, Average – 94-95, Grade – 70/70  Fastball (FB) Velocity (Stretch): High – 97, Low 90, Average 93-94, Grade – 60/70  Fastball (FB) Movement:  Shows riding life in on right-handers at times. Uses height well to create angle with his fastball. Explodes on hitters when thrown up in the zone. Grade – 50/60  Overall Fastball: True plus to plus-plus velocity right now with room to add more velocity with additional strength in frame. Fastball has movement in all parts of the zone. Will still flatten out on occasion when he over-throws. Grade – 60/70

1-10-12 - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-15-prospects-new-york-mets/  -

1. Zack Wheeler, RHP

 BORN: May 30, 1990

 EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons

 ACQUIRED: 2009 1st round (6th overall), Georgia HS (by San Francisco)

 2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 2nd (San Francisco)

SCOUTING REPORT: A half year of veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran cost the San Francisco Giants dearly when they shipped Wheeler to the east coast. The right-hander instantly became the organization’s No. 1 prospect, narrowly edging Matt Harvey for the distinction. Wheeler’s repertoire includes a 91-95 mph fastball that can touch the upper 90s, a potentially-plus curveball and two developing pitches: a changeup and a cutter.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Wheeler had little to no issues with high-A ball during his first true full season in the minors. He struggled a bit with his control while pitching in the Giants organization (4.81 BB/9 in 88 IP) but made some minor adjustments with the Mets and showed improvement, albeit in a small sample size (1.67 BB/9 in 27 IP). He has yet to see his strikeout rate dip below 10.00 K/9 in his career. After posting an outstanding ground-ball rate in ’10, Wheeler’s became more of a fly-ball pitcher in ’11; it would be nice to see him work the lower half of the strike zone more consistently.

YEAR AHEAD: Wheeler is ready for the challenge of double-A and he should spend the majority of the season at that level. The organization may be tempted to call on him if the starting rotation struggles but he could use another full season in the minors before facing big league hitters.

CAREER OUTLOOK: Beltran compiled 1.2 WAR in 44 games with the Giants before jumping ship for a lucrative two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Assuming he stays healthy, Wheeler will have no issues surpassing the value (possibly in his rookie season) that the Giants organization squeezed out of Beltran. Wheeler has a legitimate shot at becoming a No. 1 or 2 starter at the MLB level.