 |
| Mets prospect Zack Wheeler in New Britain Wednesday. (Matt Straub) |
By Matt Straub
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The New York Mets have a sense of optimism not held by their fan base in a few years. Mets fans are right to be excited about the future, since the team features so many young players who are making big contributions to the Mets' surprising start.
But you don't have Smith's experience to see that. Wheeler was routinely over 95 miles an hour with a fastball that he could put anywhere he felt like. He touched 97 when he needed to, but also showed confidence in his other pitches, including a change up that made some New Britain hitters look silly.
Wheeler said after the game that he still needed to develop that pitch as well as his other secondary pitches, but the foundation for a three or four-pitch mix in the majors is clearly there already. His stuff is more than good enough to get through a big league game right now, but with a little more seasoning he could be dominant. The only concern I would have about Wheeler is that he actually tends to throw too many strikes at times.
The best part about Wheeler, however, is his humility. Wheeler went out of his way after the game to describe himself as "just another pitcher," though it's clear he is not. His humble approach combined with his clear confidence is an interesting mix, and one that will likely serve him well. He's good and he knows it, but he doesn't think he's above learning things or being coached.
As good as the young Mets are right now, they are about to get better. Their ace is on the way.
But perhaps the most exciting thing about the Mets' future is that their best young player isn't even in New York yet.
It's very easy to get worked up about a minor leaguer who dominates inferior competition. Any Mets fan who saw Zack Wheeler throw the ball Wednesday in New Britain, however, would be unable to contain his enthusiasm.
Wheeler is the real deal, there's no question about it. The player the Mets got in return for Carlos Beltran will be in New York, barring an injury or a shocking downturn in his production, by next year at the latest. Soon to be 22 years old, Wheeler has what New Britain Rock Cats manager Jeff Smith called a "special talent" after watching Wheeler blow through his team. Smith has been associated with the Rock Cats in one way or another for a decade, and said after the game that Wheeler was one of the best pitchers to come through the Eastern League in that time.
But you don't have Smith's experience to see that. Wheeler was routinely over 95 miles an hour with a fastball that he could put anywhere he felt like. He touched 97 when he needed to, but also showed confidence in his other pitches, including a change up that made some New Britain hitters look silly.
Wheeler said after the game that he still needed to develop that pitch as well as his other secondary pitches, but the foundation for a three or four-pitch mix in the majors is clearly there already. His stuff is more than good enough to get through a big league game right now, but with a little more seasoning he could be dominant. The only concern I would have about Wheeler is that he actually tends to throw too many strikes at times.
If he is over the plate too much in the majors, good hitters will turn around that fastball and send it back out over the wall. If he can get ahead of hitters, then get him to chase a pitch out of the zone, he can be unstoppable.
The best part about Wheeler, however, is his humility. Wheeler went out of his way after the game to describe himself as "just another pitcher," though it's clear he is not. His humble approach combined with his clear confidence is an interesting mix, and one that will likely serve him well. He's good and he knows it, but he doesn't think he's above learning things or being coached.
As good as the young Mets are right now, they are about to get better. Their ace is on the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment