NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Phillies, fresh off their remarkable run to the World Series last season will look to mirror that success in 2023. While the offense will lead the way, the Phillies will rely on pitching as well with Zack Wheeler being one of the arms to guide them there. But who is Zack Wheller and how did he get to this point in his MLB career?
Born in Symrna, Georgia to a baseball-loving family, Zack’s parents would move the kids to Dallas, Georgia where Zack would begin his High School career with East Paulding High school. Zack’s father, Barry played amateur baseball for 15 years while his mother, Elaine played softball even while the kids were still in diapers. The Wheeler’s loved baseball so it was no surprise that Zack would fall right in line.
In his senior season of High School, Zack Wheeler would post a record of 9-0 to go with an ERA of 0.45, and 140 Strikeouts while also earning Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year. Following High School, Wheeler had made the decision to attend and pitch for Kennesaw State. However, plans changed when he was selected in the 2009 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants with the 6th overall pick.
Wheeler was assigned to the Class A Augusta GreenJackets of the South Atlantic League to start the 2010 season. In 21 games with Augusta, including 13 starts, Wheeler posted a 3–3 record and a 3.99 ERA, with 70 strikeouts in 58+ innings.
Zack Wheeler Is Ready To Bounce Back
In 2011, Wheeler was traded to the New York Mets where he would have his ups and downs in the system before making his MLB debut in 2013. In 2014, Wheeler started 32 games for the Mets and posted a record of 11-11 with 187 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.43. With more injuries starting to pile up over the next few seasons with the Mets, Wheeler would go 44-38 in 126 starts with 726 Strikeouts and an ERA of 3.77 while in that organization.
In 2020, at 30 years old, Wheeler would leave the Mets and sign a 5-year $118M contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first season with the Phillies, Wheeler made 11 Starts (Pandemic Season) with 53 Strikeouts and a 4-2 record with 71 Innings Pitched. The following year, Zach Wheeler put it all together for the Phillies.
In 2021, Wheeler would be named an All-Star as he would go 14-10 in 32 Starts with 247 strikeouts to pair with an ERA of 2.78. That was by far his best season as a pro but Wheeler was looking for more. He wanted a ring. After being part of one of the best rotations while with the Mets, Wheeler was hell-bent on making a name for himself with the Phillies.
During the 2022 season, Wheeler’s numbers were down from his All-Star year but he caught fire at the right time. In 26 starts, wheeler would post a record of 12-7 to go with 163 strikeouts with an ERA of 2.82. But that was the regular season. Wheeler now was able to take his talents to the postseason for the first time in his career.
In 6 starts, he would go 1-3 but it was the 2 losses he suffered against the Houston Astros in the World Series that will haunt him this offseason. Nevertheless, Zack Wheeler is ready to kick it into gear this coming season. The Phillies have reloaded on offense and added more arms in the bullpen for what they hope is another championship run.
Despite who gets the call to open the year, Zack Wheeler has already proven what he could do when he’s healthy. The knock on him while with the Mets has vanished. If he can stay healthy and give the Phillies another 26+ Starts on the year, he could very well see another All-Star appearance and lead the way to a parade up Broad Street.
