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Zack Wheeler 2023 Player Outlook: High-Floor Starter At Good Draft Value
2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler turned in another strong season in 2022. The 32-year-old made 26 starts, compiling a 2.82 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and a 26.9% strikeout rate in 153 innings pitched. However, he did miss some time at both the beginning and end of the regular season, resulting in fewer starts than a starter drafted at pick 31 overall. When he did pitch, most things were almost identical to 2021. The one difference was a decrease in strikeout rate from 29.1% to 26.9%. The underlying culprit could have been a one-MPH decrease on Wheeler's main three pitches: four-seam fastball, slider, and sinker. The good news is that he still performed like a high-end starter while only missing a few starts and maintained the relative jump in strikeout rate from earlier in his career. Wheeler is currently being drafted at about pick 55 overall, making him the 13th starting pitcher off the board. He is currently being drafted after some starters with higher upside. However, Wheeler's high floor and track record of logging significant innings make his current draft position seem reasonable assuming a clean bill of health, if not a bit of a bargain.
