Jason Wheeler
| IP | 3 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 9 |
| WHIP | 3.333 |
| BB/9 | 12 |
| SO/9 | 0 |
- Full name Jason MacDonald Wheeler
- Born 10/27/1990 in Torrance, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 255 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Loyola Marymount
- Debut 05/30/2017
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Drafted in the 8th round (268th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2011 (signed for $132,500).
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The younger brother of former Loyola Marymount slugger and current Diamondbacks Double-A third baseman Ryan Wheeler, Jason was hampered by poor command of his secondary stuff during his first two college seasons. He turned a corner in the Northwoods League last summer, winning the circuit's pitching triple crown and ranking as its No. 13 prospect. The hulking 6-foot-6, 260-pound lefty dominated hitters with an 88-93 mph fastball with good downward angle last summer, but he pitched mostly at 88-91 as LMU's Friday starter this spring. His changeup has developed into an average second pitch, but he's never shown the ability to consistently throw a quality breaking ball. He tinkered with it over the fall and spring and at his best he flashed a decent slider, but it needs refinement.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Wheeler's older brother Ryan was his teammate at Loyola Marymount and made his big league debut in 2012 with the Diamondbacks before being traded in November to the Rockies. Jason is quite different from his brother, as he's lefthanded and huge. After signing for $132,500 as a 2011 eighth-rounder, he led the Midwest League with 14 wins and the Twins system with 115 strikeouts in his pro debut last year. Wheeler pitches at 88-90 mph with his fastball, and uses his height and high three-quarters arm slot to pitch downhill and get early-count outs. He's hittable but gets his share of groundballs and generally keeps the ball in the park. He holds his velocity well and is exceptional at stopping the running game, with 16 of 28 basestealers caught on his watch in 2012. Wheeler's secondary stuff is nothing special. His changeup has sink and his cutter-type slider helps him give lefthanders a different look. He'll also drop in an early-count curveball that has its moments. Wheeler's durability and feel for pitching make him one of Minnesota' better starting pitching prospects, though he may not be more than a No. 5 starter. He could skip a level to Double-A this year.
