Zack Wheeler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2013
  The Giants know a thing or three about drafting high school pitchers in the first round. Matt Cain (25th overall, 2002) and Madison Bumgarner (10th overall, 2007) have helped pitch San Francisco to World Series titles in two of the past three seasons. Taken sixth overall in 2009 out of East Paulding High in the metro Atlanta area, Wheeler might have joined that duo in the Giants rotation had he not been sent to the Mets for Carlos Beltran at the 2011 trade deadline. Shortly before the deal, Wheeler reverted to his high school pitching mechanics--highlighted by a higher kick and faster tempo--and began to rein in the high walk rate that had plagued him as a pro. He dominated Double-A competition with Binghamton in 2012, leading Eastern League starters by striking out 25 percent of batters faced while ranking fourth in both opponent average (.225) and WHIP (1.16). Though his control regressed following an August promotion to Triple-A Buffalo, Wheeler continued to miss bats and keep the ball in the park, allowing just four homers in 25 starts on the year. Since his trade to the Mets, Wheeler has blossomed into one of the top pitching prospects in the game. His fastball sits at 94-95 mph and tops out at 98, playing up thanks to an easy arm action and late life that often causes batters to take defensive swings. He throws downhill from a lanky 6-foot-4 frame, making it difficult--particularly for righthanders--to lift the ball. Righties batted just .204/.259/.271 against him last season. He shows a good feel for changing speeds on his fastball and for mixing in a two-seamer that runs away from lefties. Wheeler owes his breakthrough success largely to growth in three areas: health, control and repertoire. He learned to manage the persistent soreness in the middle finger of his pitching hand--caused by a fingernail avulsion--and established a career high with 149 innings in 2012. His walk rate has decreased from 5.2 per nine innings in the Giants system to 3.3 with the Mets, and he has added a slider and a changeup. Wheeler relied more on a power curveball as a Giant, but he now turns equally to an upper-80s slider with plus potential. He still mixes in a sharp high-70s curve that bottoms out, and he also has the makings of an average changeup for which he's trying to find the perfect grip. He's remarkably efficient for a young power pitcher, averaging six innings per start in 2012, and he also excels at holding runners. Just eight of 19 basestealers succeeded against him last season. Matt Harvey electrified Mets observers with a power arsenal during his rookie season in 2012, and Wheeler could produce similar results when he makes his big league debut in 2013. He may get some more time in Triple-A first. He has a classic No. 2 starter profile with a plus fastball and breaking ball, and at least an average third pitch and average command. Health permitting, he and Harvey could front New York's rotation as soon as 2014.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2012
  The Mets acquired Wheeler from the offense starved Giants in a straight-up trade for Carlos Beltran on July 27. "We were looking for big upside," said first-year general manager Sandy Alderson, who eschewed offers of two or three players from other clubs because he favored quality over quantity. Wheeler delivered on that front in 2011, ranking as the high Class A California League's No. 4 prospect with San Jose prior to the trade and then running up a 31-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio for high Class A St. Lucie afterward. The sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, Wheeler signed with the Giants for $3.3 million, which still stands as the largest bonus San Francisco has paid an amateur pitcher. That's saying something for an organization that also drafted Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner in the first round. Wheeler turned in a fully healthy season in 2011 after a persistent cracked-fingernail issue limited him to just 59 innings during his 2010 pro debut. He struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings in 2011, pairing with righthander Matt Harvey (10.3) to give the Mets two of the 23 minor league ERA qualifiers who cracked double digits--and righty Jeurys Familia (9.6) just missed giving the organization three such power pitchers. All three will pitch at Double-A or higher in 2012. Wheeler hit 97 mph with his first pitch for St. Lucie and consistently pitched at 93-95 for the Mets. He has a loose, easy arm action and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He complements his plus fastball with a mid- to high-70s downer curveball that buckles knees and helps him neutralize righthanders. They hit a mere .199 and slugged .292 against him between his two high Class A stops. He has a decent mid-80s changeup that sinks and fades, but improved arm action would help him sell the pitch more effectively. He also unveiled a mid- to high-80s cutter/slider as a potential weapon to get inside against lefties, who batted .283 and slugged .452 against him. Wheeler did a better job locating the ball down in the zone in 2011, though like many young power pitchers his overall command needs sharpening, and it could stand in the way of him reaching frontline starter potential. On the other hand, his control improved dramatically after he reverted to his high school pitching mechanics in July, reinstituting a higher leg kick and bringing his hands to a higher position before breaking them. From July 16 to the end of the season he walked just seven batters in 38 innings (1.7 per nine), compared to 45 walks in 77 innings (5.3) beforehand. At the time of his trade, Wheeler's command wasn't as advanced as other recent Giants first-round prep pitchers such as Cain or Bumgarner. But his raw stuff--plus-plus fastball, plus curve, chance for an average changeup and/or cutter--gives him No. 2 starter potential when paired with just average command. Still just 22, Wheeler will head to Double-A Binghamton to begin 2012 and could finish the year in Triple-A Buffalo. Expect to see him in Queens at some point in 2013.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #2 prospect in 2011
  The Giants made Wheeler the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft--the highest they've taken a pitcher since selecting Jason Grilli at No. 4 in 1997--and signed him for $3.3 million. It was a bad omen when he recorded only one out in his pro debut in April, as a persistent cracked-fingernail issue derailed his season. He did post a 3.27 ERA in his final five starts. With his size, broad shoulders and loose arm action, Wheeler has plenty of projection remaining. His cracked nail was a blessing in disguise because it forced him to take time out to work on smoothing out his mechanics. He got on a more direct line to the plate and cut down the effort in his delivery, allowing him to command the bottom of the strike zone much better. Wheeler threw an easy 94-97 mph fastball during instructional league with improved location. His changeup became functional toward the end of the season, and his breaking ball became tighter and more consistent. He can throw an overhand curveball but has had more success with a slurve. He did a lot of maturing on the mound in his first pro season and learned he can't strike out the world. Wheeler remains an elite arm with room to grow. After a promising instructional league, he'll move up to high Class A if he competes well in spring training.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #3 prospect in 2010
  Wheeler looked better every time the Giants scouted him, so they selected him with the sixth overall pick in June--the highest they've taken a pitcher since Jason Grilli at No. 4 in 1997--and signed him at the Aug. 17 deadline for $3.3 million, a franchise-record bonus for a pitcher. Wheeler's older brother Adam was a 13th-round pick in 2001 and pitched four seasons in the Yankees system. Wheeler is projectable with broad shoulders, long arms, huge hands and loose arm action. He throws an easy fastball with explosive late life, sitting in the low 90s and topping out at 95 mph. He'll show three plus pitches at times. His hard, three-quarters breaking ball has sharp finish, and his changeup is advanced for his age. He sells it well and it has nice fade. Wheeler is still growing into his body and is getting stronger, but he'll need to work on his flexibility as well. Though he's usually around the plate with his fastball, his command isn't pinpoint. He still needs a more consistent feel for his changeup. Wheeler projects as a frontline starter in the big leagues. He's expected to begin his pro career close to home at low Class A Augusta. San Francisco doesn't need to rush him, but it's worth noting that Wheeler is more advanced than Madison Bumgarner was coming out of high school.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #4 prospect in 2013
  Wheeler figured to benefit the least from the Mets? Triple-A affiliation shift from Buffalo to Las Vegas, and he got off to a slow start with the 51s but righted himself in a hurry, displaying a 94-98 mph fastball that league managers voted the best in the PCL. It earns 70 grades from scouts, and his curveball complements the fastball and is also regarded as an out-pitch. What impressed managers as much, Bundy said, were his smarts out on the mound. ?He?s not just a thrower out there,? he said. ?He?s a guy who can pitch. He?s got a plus breaking ball and he controls both sides of the plate. He?s pretty darn good.? Wheeler?s changeup flashes average, but his offspeed stuff was inconsistent prior to his promotion. His superior fastball and athleticism make him a strong candidate to provide volume innings if not become a front-line starter down the line.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 2012
  The Giants surrendered Wheeler to acquire Carlos Beltran in July 2011 in what turned out to be a vain attempt to defend their World Series title. San Francisco missed the playoffs by four games, then lost Beltran to free agency while the Mets watched Wheeler blossom into one of the top pitching prospects in the minors. "He's possibly the best pitching prospect I've ever seen," Erie manager Chris Cron said. "He has all the pitches and a free and easy delivery. He can go 98, 88, then 78 at will. For a kid, he really looks like he knows how to pitch because he changes speeds really well." Wheeler sits at 94-95 mph with his fastball and dials it up to 98 at times, throwing downhill with an easy arm action. Late life on his heater produces defensive swings by batters even when they're ahead in the count counts, and he allowed just four homers in 25 total starts this season. Wheeler relied more on a curveball as a Giant, but he now turns more on an upper-80s slider with above-average potential. For a different look, he still mixes in a curveball that bottoms out in the high 70s, and he also has the makings of an average changeup. He already excels at holding baserunners, giving up just three steals in 11 attempts in the EL.
• 
  Ranked California League #4 prospect in 2011
  The sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, Wheeler didn't pitch that season because he signed late and worked just 59 innings in his pro debut last year because he nursed a cracked fingernail. He finally started to take off in 2011, though the Giants dealt him to the Mets for Carlos Beltran in July. Wheeler spent much of the offseason getting his mechanics in order and emerged in the Cal League with an explosive 90-96 mph fastball. His heater became even more effective as he focused less on velocity and more on locating it down in the strike zone. Wheeler's secondary pitches lag behind his fastball but show plenty of promise. His upper-70s curveball has significant bite when he commands it well, and he began to show feel for his changeup. He reverted to his high school delivery shortly before the trade and achieved improved command, walking just five in six starts in the Mets system.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2010
  Problems with blisters on a finger on his pitching hand hindered Wheeler in his first pro season. The sixth overall pick in last year's draft, he missed two months and spent a third in the bullpen. He did recover to rejoin Augusta's rotation in mid-August and went 2-0, 3.27 in his last five starts. Wheeler has a low-90s fastball that tops out at 97 mph and jumps out of his hand, with late, heavy life down in the strike zone. His curveball, changeup and control all lack consistency, but he should have three solid or better pitches once he's fully developed. Some observers questioned his arm action because they thought it wasn't very clean, but they admitted his delivery creates deception. "He came back real well and finished the season great," Machemer said. "He has a lot to learn, especially in terms of getting ahead of the hitters, but his arm strength and his fastball make him a potential No. 1 or 2 starter down the road."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #11 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #35 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #55 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #49 prospect in 2010

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Giants know a thing or three about drafting high school pitchers in the first round. Matt Cain (25th overall, 2002) and Madison Bumgarner (10th overall, 2007) have helped pitch San Francisco to World Series titles in two of the past three seasons. Taken sixth overall in 2009 out of East Paulding High in the metro Atlanta area, Wheeler might have joined that duo in the Giants rotation had he not been sent to the Mets for Carlos Beltran at the 2011 trade deadline. Shortly before the deal, Wheeler reverted to his high school pitching mechanics--highlighted by a higher kick and faster tempo--and began to rein in the high walk rate that had plagued him as a pro. He dominated Double-A competition with Binghamton in 2012, leading Eastern League starters by striking out 25 percent of batters faced while ranking fourth in both opponent average (.225) and WHIP (1.16). He also aced his Future Game appearance, blowing away the two batters he faced while hitting 98 mph. Though his control regressed following an August promotion to Triple-A Buffalo, Wheeler continued to miss bats and keep the ball in the park, allowing just four homers in 25 starts on the year. New York added Wheeler to the 40-man roster in November. Scouting Report: Since his trade to the Mets, Wheeler has blossomed into one of the top pitching prospects in the game. His fastball sits at 94-95 mph and tops out at 98, playing up thanks to an easy arm action and late life that often causes batters to take defensive swings. He throws downhill from a lanky 6-foot-4 frame, making it difficult--particularly for righthanders--to lift the ball. Righties batted just .204/.259/.271 against him last season. He shows a good feel for changing speeds on his fastball and for mixing in a two-seamer that runs away from lefties. Wheeler owes his breakthrough success largely to growth in three areas: health, control and repertoire. He learned to manage the persistent soreness in the middle finger of his pitching hand--caused by a fingernail avulsion--and established a career high with 149 innings in 2012. His walk rate has decreased from 5.2 per nine innings in the Giants system to 3.3 with the Mets, and he has added a slider and a changeup. Wheeler relied more on a power curveball as a Giant, but he now turns equally to an upper-80s slider with plus potential. He still mixes in a sharp high-70s curve that bottoms out, and he also has the makings of an average changeup for which he's trying to find the perfect grip. He's remarkably efficient for a young power pitcher, averaging six innings per start in 2012, and he also excels at holding runners. Just eight of 19 basestealers (42 percent) succeeded against him last season. The Future: Matt Harvey electrified observers with a power arsenal during his rookie season in 2012, and Wheeler could produce similar results when he makes his debut in 2013. He may get some more time in Triple-A first. He has a classic No. 2 starter profile with a plus fastball and breaking ball, and at least an average third pitch and command. Health permitting, he and Harvey could front New York's rotation as soon as 2014.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Mets acquired Wheeler from the offense-starved Giants in a straight-up trade for Carlos Beltran on July 27. "We were looking for big upside," said first-year general manager Sandy Alderson, who eschewed offers of two or three players from other clubs because he favored quality over quantity. Wheeler delivered on that front in 2011, ranking as the high Class A California League's No. 4 prospect with San Jose prior to the trade and then running up a 31-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio for high Class A St. Lucie afterward. The sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, Wheeler signed with for $3.3 million, which still stands as the largest bonus San Francisco has paid an amateur pitcher. That's saying something for an organization that also drafted Matt Cain (2002), Tim Lincecum ('06) and Madison Bumgarner ('07) in the first round. Wheeler turned in a fully healthy season in 2011 after a persistent cracked-fingernail issue limited him to just 59 innings during his 2010 pro debut. He struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings in 2011, pairing with righthander Matt Harvey (10.3) to give the Mets two of the 24 minor league ERA qualifiers who cracked double digits--and righty Jeurys Familia (9.6) just missed giving the organization three such power pitchers. All three will pitch at Double-A or higher in 2012. Scouting Report: Wheeler hit 97 mph with his first pitch for St. Lucie and consistently pitched at 93-95 for the Mets. He has a loose, easy arm action and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He complements his plus fastball with a mid- to high-70s downer curveball that buckles knees and helps him neutralize righthanders. They hit a mere .199 (53-for-267) and slugged .292 (with three home runs) against him between his two high Class A stops. He has a decent mid-80s changeup that sinks and fades, but improved arm action would help him sell the pitch more effectively. He also unveiled a mid- to high-80s cutter/slider as a potential weapon to get inside against lefties, who batted .283 and slugged .452 against him. Wheeler did a better job locating the ball down in the zone in 2011, though like many young power pitchers his overall command needs sharpening, and it could stand in the way of him reaching frontline starter potential. On the other hand, his control improved dramatically after he reverted to his high school pitching mechanics in July, reinstituting a higher leg kick and bringing his hands to a higher position before breaking them. From July 16 to the end of the season he walked just seven batters in 38 innings (1.7 per nine), compared to 45 walks in 77 innings (5.3) beforehand. The Future: At the time of his trade, Wheeler's command wasn't as advanced as other recent Giants first-round prep pitchers such as Cain or Bumgarner. But his raw stuff--plus-plus fastball, plus curve, chance for an average changeup and/or cutter--gives him No. 2 starter potential when paired with just average command. Still just 22, Wheeler will head to Double-A Binghamton to begin 2012 and could finish the year in Triple-A Buffalo. Expect to see him in Queens at some point in 2013.