American · Avon, USA · Born 30 May 1990Zack Wheeler is a hard-throwing Phillies ace who developed into one of MLB's top starting pitchers after early injury setbacks.
Zachary Harrison Wheeler was born on May 30, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, to Barry Wheeler, who played amateur baseball for 15 years, and Elaine Wheeler, a competitive softball player. The family moved to nearby Dallas, Georgia, when he was 13, and Wheeler starred at East Paulding High School, going 9-0 in his senior season and being named Georgia's Player of the Year by Baseball America. The San Francisco Giants selected Wheeler sixth overall in the 2009 MLB Draft, and he was traded to the New York Mets in 2011 in a deal for veteran outfielder Carlos Beltrán. He debuted in 2013 but missed the entire 2015 season following Tommy John surgery, a significant setback that delayed his development as a frontline starter. Wheeler signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent after the 2019 season, and it was in Philadelphia that he fully emerged as one of baseball's elite pitchers, leading the National League in strikeouts in 2021 and winning a Gold Glove in 2023. Wheeler has earned three All-Star selections and continues to anchor the Phillies' starting rotation as one of the most consistently dominant pitchers in the National League, renowned for his power fastball and refined complete arsenal of secondary pitches.
Phillies ace right-hander known for elite fastball velocity
How They Played
Power pitcher with four-seam fastball, slider, and curveball repertoire
Lasting Impact
Established himself as a reliable top-of-rotation starter with excellent durability
Career Honours
- 3x All-Star (2021, 2024, 2025)
- All-MLB First Team (2024)
- Gold Glove (2023)
- NL strikeout leader (2021)
| Team | Period | Games | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | 2020–2024 | 122 | #45 |
| New York Mets | 2013–2019 | 535 | #45 |
| San Francisco Giants | 2011–2013 | 17 | — |
American Athletes