Phillies: Zack Wheeler staying prepared for 2020 season
By Matt Rappa
Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler is staying ready for a 2020 season
When the Philadelphia Phillies signed starting pitcher Zack Wheeler to a five-year, $118 million contract in December, they made a significant commitment to the right-hander, viewing him as a top starter in their rotation for the foreseeable future.
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It appears that even though a 2020 season is on hold, Wheeler is maintaining his part of the multiyear pact; the five-year veteran has been throwing off the mound against live batters at LakePoint Sports, located near his hometown in Georgia.
.@Cardinals first-round pick Jordan Walker (@jwalker0522) from @DHSbaseballdogs more than holding his own against @Phillies' Zack Wheeler. #Cardinals #MLB pic.twitter.com/O2Nw1MDmmy
— LakePoint Sports (@LakePointSports) June 17, 2020
LakePoint first tweeted a video of Wheeler throwing off their mound on June 9. And, on Wednesday, they shared another — the right-hander facing third baseman Jordan Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2020 first-round pick who last Wednesday was selected 21st overall out of high school.
Like Wheeler, Walker also grew up in the Peach State; the recent Cardinals draft pick made some contact, but the Phillies’ No. 2 starter looked strong while staying within the strike zone.
If #MLB and the #MLPA complete their negotiations by Friday, the plan is that players will report to Spring Training 2.0 by June 29, with three full weeks of spring training. Most teams will train in their own home cities before starting the regular season July 19.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 17, 2020
The Phillies did not have a second-round pick in the recent draft due to signing Wheeler this past offseason; the New York Mets received the pick as compensation, and, at 69th overall, they took California prep outfielder Isaiah Greene.
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Wheeler, who turned 30 on May 30, has played all of his 126 career starts in a New York Mets uniform; while he posted a 5.40 ERA across three starts in Phillies red this past spring training, he struck out nine batters in 8 1/3 innings.
Last season, the right-hander’s 195 strikeouts would have been the second-most on the Phillies’ trailing only No. 1 starter Aaron Nola (229). Fellow right-hander Vince Velasquez had the next most, 65 fewer than Wheeler.
Ever since he signed, Wheeler has been considered the team’s No. 2 starter behind Nola. That still holds true, and it is a good sign to see he is staying ready for a resumption of spring training.