Filed under: San Francisco Giants
By Wes Yee
Took in last night’s San Jose Giants game featuring Giants top prospect, RHP Zack Wheeler. Wheeler was outstanding, going seven shutout innings with 12 strikeouts. He primarily featured an 88-89 MPH 2-seam fastball with run when pitching early in the count and dialed up his four seam as high as 96 MPH as a put away pitch. Early in the game he showed a 70-72 MPH changeup and a 75 MPH sharp spike curveball. His delivery is a bit herky-jerky with a slow leg kick and accelerated drive towards home. His arm action appears clean and he keeps his weight back well.
Wheeler projects as a #1 or #2 SP at the major league level, but will need to throw his 4-seamer more often to keep big league hitter’s respect. He threw probably 60-70% 2-seam fastballs at lower velocity. He seemed to have great confidence in his curve while limiting the usage of his changeup. The curve is a plus pitch that will get swingthroughs at all levels. It’s likely that he’ll be sent to AA sometime soon, as he showed improved command. The Giants have to like what they’ve seen in 2011, as he’s recorded over a strikeout per inning. He’s a valuable trade piece who could push for a call up as soon as 2012.
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Nice post. I would add that the Giants have a Keeper list that contains players that they are unwilling to trade. I would have to think that Wheeler is on that list, so he is not a trade piece per se.
And what the heck was that in the middle of the video, it sounded like fireworks following by ducks quacking?
Comment by obsessivegiantscompulsive June 1, 2011 @ 11:22 amThanks for the comment. Which video did you hear the noise in? Strange things happen at minor league ballparks.
I don’t think GM’s have “keeper lists.” Nobody is untouchable for the right value/price. If the Rays called tomorrow and said Evan Longoria for Wheeler you can bet that Wheeler would be on the next plane out.
Comment by llwesman June 1, 2011 @ 11:24 am