Ryan Wheeler

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #10 prospect in 2013
  Wheeler, who spent most of his college career as a first baseman, made the shift to third base in 2010 and has improved his offensive profile each year. He was one of the top hitters on a Reno squad that won the Triple-A National Championship in 2012, batting .351/.388/.572 before getting called up in mid-July. The Diamondbacks traded him to the Rockies for Matt Reynolds in November. Wheeler has strong wrists and gets good leverage with his swing. While he has the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field, he's working on developing more pull power. He makes consistent contact, though somewhat at the expense of drawing walks. Wheeler made strides defensively in 2012, showing a strong arm and working on his agility and mobility in order to increase his range. He won't ever be an asset at the hot corner, but he can make the routine play and has cut down on his errors. He also has seen time in the outfield, but his well below-average speed doesn't provide him with much range. It's not certain that Wheeler will have enough glove to profile as an everyday third baseman or enough power to be a regular at first base. He'll get a chance to make the big league club in spring training as an extra bat off the bench, but more Triple-A time may be in his future.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #18 prospect in 2012
  Wheeler was a college first baseman when the Diamondbacks drafted him in the fifth round in 2009, and he won their minor league player of the year award in his pro debut. Afterward, he moved across the diamond to third base and didn't make the same offensive impact in 2010. He got his bat going again in Double-A last year, using his strong wrists and the leverage in his swing to serve as Mobile's second-most dangerous hitter, after Paul Goldschmidt. Wheeler was the BayBears' top hitter in the playoffs as they won the Southern League championship. His bat looked quicker in 2011 and he did a better job of catching up with good fastballs. He projects as a solid hitter with average power. That would be enough to become a major league regular at third base, but the question is whether Wheeler can stay there. Though he has enough arm strength for the hot corner, his range is below average and he's erratic. He probably won't dislodge Goldschmidt at first base, so his value may come as a corner utility player. A well below-average runner, he has played briefly in left field as a pro. Following a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, Wheeler will head to Triple-A.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #16 prospect in 2011
  The Diamondbacks continued their run on corner infielders in the 2009 draft by selecting Wheeler, whose stock had fallen after a disappointing junior season at Loyola Marymount. He returned to form after signing, however, batting .361/.462/.540 between Yakima and South Bend and earning the organization's minor league player of the year award in just half a season. Because he's not viewed as a true masher, Wheeler moved across the infield to third base last spring and spent most of 2010 playing there, though he also played a little first base and left field. Wheeler is a bat-first player who stands right on top of the plate and uses the whole field. He shows the ability to drive the ball out to the big part of the park at times. He has a good approach and has worked hard to improve. Wheeler is a fringy defensive player at third base with limited range and footwork, but he did improve as the season went on. He has an average arm and some scouts think he can be an average defender at third, in spite of well below-average speed. He'll need to make that happen or show consistent power to all fields to avoid becoming a tweener, with not enough bat for first base and not enough defense for third. He'll return to Double-A to open 2011.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2010
  A disappointing junior season at Loyola Marymount dropped Wheeler to the fifth round of the 2009 draft, where the Diamondbacks signed him for $160,000. Though he didn't enter the system until June, Wheeler was named Arizona's minor league player of the year. He led the short-season Northwest League in on-base percentage (.461) and OPS (.999), and topped those numbers after a late-season promotion to low Class A, where he batted cleanup in the Midwest League playoffs. Potentially the best offensive player in the system, Wheeler has a rhythmic, balanced swing. He has a feel for recognizing pitches and controls the strike zone well. He drives the ball from gap to gap and earns high marks for his plate coverage, particularly in his ability to drive the ball the other way. His offensive package reminds scouts of Joey Votto. An average defender at first base, Wheeler has solid hands and arm strength for the position. Wheeler's big body precludes a return to third base or left field, where he has dabbled in the past. He's a below-average runner. After his successful pro debut, there's no reason Wheeler can't open his first pro season in high Class A. His bat should enable him to move quickly.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Northwest League #6 prospect in 2009
  Wheeler (no relation to Tim) was one of the most impressive players in the NWL, leading the league in on-base percentage (.461) and ranking second in batting (.363) and slugging (.538). He continued to sting the ball after a late-season promotion to low Class A South Bend, where he batted cleanup in the Midwest League playoffs. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has a powerful lefthanded stroke, as well as the patience and approach to hit for average and draw walks. He does a good job with plate coverage and using the whole field. "He reminds me a lot of Lance Berkman, the way he swings the bat from the left side," said Everett manager John Tamargo, who coached Berkman with the Astros. "He's very confident at the plate, very patient, has a good knowledge of the strike zone and he can hit the ball." Wheeler has played third base in the past and saw some time in left field with Yakima, but his position will be first base. He's an average defender with sure hands.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Wheeler, who spent most of his college career as a first baseman, made the shift to third base in 2010 and has improved his offensive profile each year. He was one of the top hitters on a Reno squad that won the Triple-A National Championship in 2012, batting .351/.388/.572 before getting called up in mid-July. The Diamondbacks traded him to the Rockies for Matt Reynolds in November. Scouting Report: Wheeler has strong wrists and gets good leverage with his swing. While he has the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field, he's working on developing more pull power. He makes consistent contact, though somewhat at the expense of drawing walks. Wheeler made strides defensively in 2012, showing a strong arm and working on his agility and mobility in order to increase his range. He won't ever be an asset at the hot corner, but he can make the routine play and has cut down on his errors. He also has seen time in the outfield, but his well below-average speed doesn't provide him with much range. The Future: Wheeler may not have enough glove to profile as an everyday third baseman or enough power to be a regular at first base. He'll get a chance to make the big league club in spring training as an extra bat off the bench, but more Triple-A time may be in his future.