Zack Wheeler: A Comprehensive Profile

Key Takeaway: Zack Wheeler was picked sixth overall in the 2009 MLB Draft. Since then, he has risen from a standout high school player in Georgia to a top ace for the Philadelphia Phillies. He faced several major injuries but still made three All-Star teams and led the National League in strikeouts.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Zachary Harrison Wheeler was born on May 30, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia. He grew up in Dallas, Georgia, with his parents, Barry and Elaine Wheeler. Both parents played organized baseball and softball. This got Zack and his two older brothers into the sport early. His dad played amateur baseball for 15 years. His mom kept competing in softball, even after having kids. She often placed a playpen in the dugout during weekend tournaments. Zack’s talent flourished on the mound. His eldest brother, Jacob, quit playing after heart surgery. Adam, his middle brother, saw his pitching career end due to a torn labrum in the Yankees system.

Attending East Paulding High School, Wheeler excelled on the varsity baseball team. In 2008, as a junior, he had an 8–3 win–loss record. He posted a 1.31 ERA and struck out 127 batters in 64⅓ innings. His performance earned him the Georgia High School Association 4A Region Pitcher of the Year award. In 2009, his senior campaign was remarkable. He went 9–0 and had a 0.54 ERA. He set a school record with 149 strikeouts in 76 innings. He also batted .280 as a designated hitter. He capped the season by throwing a no-hitter in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs against Mill Creek High School, prompting East Paulding to retire his No. 45 jersey in 2015.

Draft and Minor League Development

Wheeler was rated as one of the country’s top prospects. He first committed to Kennesaw State University. However, he signed with the San Francisco Giants after they picked him sixth overall in the 2009 MLB Draft. He received a $3.3 million signing bonus.

2010 (Augusta GreenJackets, Single-A): - Made 21 appearances, including 13 starts. - Compiled a 3–3 record. - Had a 3.99 ERA. - Achieved 70 strikeouts in 58⅔ innings. Earned a spot in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game./strong>.

2011 (San Jose Giants, High-A): Posted a 7–5 record with a 3.99 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 88 innings across 16 starts. Selected for the California League All-Star Game and ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ No. 2 prospect, boasting the best fastball in the system.

On July 28, 2011, San Francisco sent Wheeler to the New York Mets. In return, they got veteran outfielder Carlos Beltrán and some cash. Assigned to the St. Lucie Mets (High-A), he went 2–2 with a 2.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 27 innings. Wheeler was promoted to Double-A Binghamton in April 2012. He led the Eastern League with a 25% strikeout rate. He finished with a 10–6 record and a 3.26 ERA. In 116 innings, he allowed just two home runs. Named an Eastern League All-Star and participated in the Futures Game for the second time.

A midseason move to Triple-A Buffalo resulted in a 12–8 record and a 3.26 ERA over 149 innings at Binghamton and Buffalo. He led Minor League Baseball with 148 strikeouts. The Mets stopped him on September 1 to limit his innings. But projections showed he might debut in the majors in 2013.

Major League Debut and New York Mets Tenure (2013–2019)

2013–2014: Rookie Surge

Wheeler’s debut was on June 18, 2013, facing the Atlanta Braves. He threw six shutout innings, struck out seven batters, and led the team to a 6–1 victory. He finished his rookie season at 7–5 with a 3.42 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 100 innings in 17 starts.

Expectations grew in 2014 after teammate Matt Harvey’s Tommy John surgery. Wheeler faced some command issues early on. Still, he threw a complete-game shutout on June 19 against the Miami Marlins. He finished the year 11–11, with a 3.54 ERA and 187 strikeouts in 185⅓ innings. This showed he can be a top starter.

2015–2016: Tommy John and Setbacks

In 2015, during spring training, Wheeler tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He had Tommy John surgery on March 25. Rehabilitation had several setbacks. In April 2016, Wheeler had stitch removal surgery. Then, he felt elbow discomfort in June. In August, he strained a flexor tendon. Because of this, he missed the entire 2015–16 season.

2017–2019: Return and Free Agency

Wheeler avoided arbitration with a one-year, $800,000 deal in January 2017. He returned on April 8 but had a rough season. He went 3–7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts. He was shut down on August 24 because of a humerus stress injury.

In 2018, Wheeler made a strong return. He led MLB with a WHIP of 0.81 and was second in ERA at 1.32 after the All-Star break. He finished the year with a 12–7 record and a 3.31 ERA over 29 starts. In 2019, the Mets kept Wheeler through July. He set personal bests with 195⅓ innings and 195 strikeouts. He wrapped up the season with an 11–8 record and a 3.96 ERA in 31 games.

Philadelphia Phillies Era (2020–Present)

2020: Pandemic Season

On December 9, 2019, Wheeler signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The contract is worth $118 million./strong>. He debuted on July 25, 2020. He won 4–2 with a 2.92 ERA over 11 starts (71 innings). He became the first Phillies starter to allow 3 or fewer runs in his first 10 starts. He also led the NL in hit batters with 7. His sinker velocity of 97.1 mph ranked second among pitchers who threw the pitch ≥100 times.

2021: All-Star and Strikeout Champion

The 2021 season marked Wheeler’s rise as the Phillies’ ace. On April 3, he struck out 10 in seven innings. He also got multiple hits. No Phillies pitcher has done this since 2017. On May 29, a Phillies pitcher racked up 14 strikeouts. He became the first since Curt Schilling and Steve Carlton to have three games in a row with double-digit strikeouts.

By mid-season, Wheeler had 139 strikeouts in 114 innings. This earned him his first All-Star Game selection. He went 14–10 with a 2.78 ERA. He set career highs in innings (213⅓), complete games (3), shutouts (2), batters faced (849), and strikeouts (247). This earned him the NL strikeout title, his first since 1998. Wheeler placed second in NL Cy Young voting and was an NL Gold Glove finalist.

2022–2023: Consistency and Defensive Excellence

In 2022, Wheeler had a record of 12–7 and an ERA of 2.82. He pitched 153 innings and struck out 163 batters. His 0.812 HR/9 was the fourth-lowest among active pitchers. Earning $26 million, he ranked 10th among NL salaries. In the 2023 campaign, he had a 13–6 record and a 3.61 ERA. He also won his first Gold Glove Award. He struck out 212 batters in 192 innings. His main pitches were a four-seam fastball (44%) and a slider (27%).

2024–2025: Extension and Milestones

On March 4, 2024, Wheeler signed a three-year, $126 million extension. In 2024, he had a record of 16–7 and a 2.57 ERA. He threw 200 innings and racked up 224 strikeouts. He placed second in the Cy Young voting, trailing Chris Sale. On June 9, 2025, Wheeler hit his 1,000th strikeout with the Phillies. He became the 10th pitcher in the team’s history to reach this milestone. Then, he chose to skip the 2025 All-Star Game to focus on the second half of the season.

Pitching Repertoire and Profile

Wheeler̈̈ employs five pitches:

• Four-seam fastball: This is his best pitch. It averaged 96.8 mph in 2019, while the MLB average was 93.4 mph.
• Sinker: Noted for velocity (97.1 mph in 2020), but usage declined as hitters made more contact.
• Slider: This is his secondary breaking pitch. By 2023, it made up 27% of his mix. Wheeler noted it’s his least consistent pitch.
• Curveball: A supplementary pitch since high school, labeled “decent” with reliable control.
• Changeup: Developed in 2014 to disrupt timing, enhancing his fastball-slider combination.

Scouts note that Wheeler has a repeatable release and extension like Cole Hamels. His four-seam fastball has a lot of “rise” and late life, which makes it tough for hitters to connect.

Personal Life

Wheeler and his wife, Dominique, have four kids: one son born on July 20, 2020, and three daughters. They live in Dallas, Georgia, during the off-season. He is good friends with Chipper Jones, a former Atlanta Braves star. Chipper helped show Wheeler’s skills to pro scouts.

Career MLB Regular Season Summary

((Statistics through August 17, 2025)

Zack Wheeler’s journey shows resilience and talent. He went from a high-school star to facing challenges, and now he’s an established ace. His story highlights his hard work and commitment to improving his skills. He has long-term contracts with the Phillies. He is a key part of the rotation and a steady performer for years ahead.