Jason Wheeler - 2015

[Secondary User]

After a rough 2014 season, the Twins added four players to their forty man roster. Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer and Eddie Rosario received a lot of attention, but joining them was left handed starting pitcher Jason Wheeler. Though more quietly heralded, Wheeler is certainly deserving of our extra attention.

 

Jason Wheeler grew up in Southern Californa and attended high school in Torrance. He played varsity for two years for a Tartans squad that has a produced eight major leaguers to date (source), including Jason's older brother Ryan and the father/son pairing of Fred and Jason Kendall. Along with helping lead the Tartans to two Pioneer league championships in 2007 and 2008, he lettered and earned All-Area, All-League and All-CIF honors after both seasons. On the hardwood, he was named Most Outstanding Player in the Pioneer League after his senior season.

 

Jason made the trek up America's busiest interstate (the I-405 for those who aren't up to date on your freeway system rankings) and played his college ball for the Loyola Marymount Lions. He spent his first two seasons pitching primarily out of the bullpen, going a combined 1-4 with a 7.80 ERA. In his Junior season, he cracked the Lions starting rotation and found success, pitching to a 6-4 record and a 3.84 ERA.

 

Jason decided to enter the First Year Player's Draft after his junior season, and joined the Twins organization in 2011 when he was selected in the 8th round. As the 268th pick, Jason received a signing bonus of $132,000. He skipped the rookie leagues and reported to Minnesota's then Class A affiliate Beloit to start the 2012 season. In his first professional season, he posted a 14-6 record in 27 starts, a 3.45 ERA, 43 walks and 115 strikeouts in 156.2 innings pitched and helped lead the Snappers to the Midwest League playoffs and was named to the Midwest League All Star team. After his successful campaign with the Snappers, he was promoted to the Twins A+ affiliate Ft Myers Miracle. He went 9-4 in 26 starts with a 3.70 ERA, 58 walks and 91 strike outs in 143.1 innings pitched.

 

Despite posting solid numbers, including leading his team in innings pitched and strikeouts both seasons, the decision was made to have Jason start the 2014 season with the Miracle.  He didn't stay long. He posted a 2.51 ERA, a 1.215 WHIP, averaged over 6 innings per start and saw improvements in his K/9, BB/9 and H/9. After 13 starts, he was promoted to the then AA affiliate New Britian Rock Cats and continued to find success, this time to the tune of a 2.80 ERA and a 1.149 WHIP in 12 starts and 74 innings. To finish the season, Jason made one final start with the AAA affiliate Rochester Red Wings, which is where he started the 2015 season. He led the organization in ERA in 2014, and also led all Twins minor leaguers in innings pitched.

 

At 6'6", Jason fits right in with tall starting pitching prospects like Trevor May and Alex Meyer and uses that frame to create good downward angle and induce a lot of ground balls. He features a three pitch mix, fastball, curveball and slider. Some concerns with Wheeler include the lack of an 'out' pitch and his career platoon splits. While all three of his pitches grade out well, none of them receives a plus grade, which could lead to Jason being hittable at the major league level. He also has fared much better against left-handed batters than he has right-handed batters to this point in his career.

 

With the 2015 season just underway, management hopes for Jason to continue the trend of growth he has shown throughout his time in the Twins organization, and potentially make his debut in a Twins uniform. Jason took a good first step as he made his first start of the season for the Red Wings on Sunday against the Buffalo Bisons. His control was atypical, as he walked four and also hit a batter, but he was able to go 6.2 innings and allowed two runs on only four hits,

[Secondary User]

First, let me apologize for the brevity of this post. My computer is down and I'm making this post from a phone.

 

Jason Wheeler made his second start of the season when the Rochester Red Wings took on the Pawtucket Red Sox. He went 5.0 innings giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits while issuing 2 walks and striking out 4. He took a no decision.

[Secondary User]

Jason has made two starts since the last update that are perhaps best described as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

 

On April 22nd, the Red Wings were in Syracuse to face off with the Chiefs (Nationals affiliate).  He staked the Chiefs to a 6-1 lead through three innings, allowing three home runs.  In the top of the fourth, the offense rallied and tied the game up, and Wheeler came out and looked as if he had settled into a groove, recording his first one-two-three inning.  The offense responded by giving him a lead by scoring one run in the first.  After a rough start, he was a half inning away from being in line for a win.  But after getting the first out in the bottom of the fifth, a single and walk spelled the end of his day.  He didn't get any help fro the bullpen as Stephen Pryor threw two wild pitches, allowing a run to score, and closing the line on Jason.  His final line was:

 

4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks, 3 HRs, and 87 pitches, 50 for strikes.

 

In his next outing, Jason came back firing at home against the Columbus Clippers (Indians affiliate).  He cruised through 7 innings on 90 pitches, giving up only 4 base runners (2 hits and 2 walks) while getting two double play balls and not allowing a single runner to third base.  He came to pitch the 8th with a 3-0 lead, and gave up a soft single and a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  After getting Destin Hood to pop out to the catcher, a ground ball to Doug Bernier looked as if would be another GIDP and the end of the threat, but a fielding error by Bernier allowed both runners to advance and load the bases with only one out.  Wheeler was replaced by Logan Darnell, and again, received no help from his bullpen, as all three runs eventually came across to score, though only one was earned.  The Red Wings bounced back with 2 in the bottom half of the inning and went on to win, though Wheeler received a no decision.  His final line was:

 

7.1 IP, 3 H, 3R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, 0 HR on 108 pitches (64 strikes)

 

Jason's now carries a 4.63 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched in his four starts.  He has a K/9 of 5.0, a BB/9 of 3.9 and a WHIP of 1.286.  He will make his next start on Tuesday when the Red Wings head to Indianapolis to face off with the Indians (Pirates affiliate)

[Secondary User]

Jason has made three starts since the last update and has had struggled, despite earning his first win of the season.  In three starts spanning 18 innings, he gave up 4 home runs.  His lines for the three games are as follow:

 

5/5:

5IP, 6H, 5ER, 3BB, 3K, 2HR (Win)

 

5/10:

7.1IP, 6H, 3ER, 0BB, 3K, 2HR, 1HBP (Loss)

 

5/15:

5.2IP, 8H, 4ER, 0BB, 2K, 0HR (ND)

 

The best game he through was in the 10th against the Louisville Bats.  The two home runs he gave up were back-to-back to start the 5th inning.  Outside of that, he only gave up one run on 4 hits, but a 1 run performance from the Red Wing offense quelled any chance of cashing in on a moderate performance.

 

Jason's season line thus far:

7G, 41.1IP, 40H, 26R, 24ER, 13BB, 21K, 7HR, 3HBP, 5.23 ERA

 

One side note: the Twins signed Jason's brother, Ryan, to a minor league deal.  Ryan will report to the Red Wings

 

[Shane Wahl]

It has hit the fan for Jason Wheeler. I don't really regard Wheeler as starting pitcher prospect anymore. He should convert to the bullpen and figure it out for his own future.

 

The 5.44 ERA in 101 IP between AAA and AA (in that direction) warrants an actual removal from the 40-man roster. He should spend 2016 relieving in Rochester to see if he can get it back. Whatever "it" was in the first place. The strikeouts are low for a starter, so hopefully the move to the pen adds some velocity and some vs. lefty potential for him.