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.
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