| Zelous Wheeler | |
|---|---|
 Wheeler with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2015 | |
| Yomiuri Giants – No. 110 | |
| Third baseman /Right fielder / Coach | |
| Born: (1987-01-16)January 16, 1987 (age 38) Childersburg, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 3, 2014, for the New York Yankees | |
| NPB: March 27, 2015, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: September 26, 2014, for the New York Yankees | |
| NPB: October 28, 2022, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| MLB statistics (through 2014 season) | |
| Batting average | .193 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 5 |
| NPB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 135 |
| Runs batted in | 442 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Zelous Lamar Wheeler (born January 16, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballthird baseman andright fielder. He previously played in NPB for theTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles andYomiuri Giants and inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees.
Wheeler played baseball at Childersburg High School andWallace State Community College. TheMilwaukee Brewers selected him in the 19th round of the2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He was added to the Brewers'40-man roster after the 2011 season, but waswaived before the 2012 season began. Claimed by theBaltimore Orioles, he played in their farm system in 2012 and 2013, before signing as afree agent with theNew York Yankees before the 2014 season. After starting the season in the minor leagues, Wheeler made his MLB debut on July 3, 2014.
FromSylacauga, Alabama,[1] Wheeler attended Childersburg High School, where he playedbaseball andAmerican football. Alinebacker for the football team, Wheeler was named among the best players of the state ofAlabama.[2][3] He received offers to playcollege football from severalDivision II schools, includingJacksonville State University,Miles College, andLivingston College.[3] He chose instead to enroll atWallace State Community College inHanceville, Alabama, where he playedcollege baseball. His teammates includedDerek Holland,Craig Kimbrel, andJake Elmore.[2][4]
In 2006, Wallace State won theAlabama Community College Conference championship, and finished third in theNational Junior College Athletic AssociationWorld Series.[2][5] In 2007, Wheeler shifted fromthird base toshortstop for the Lions.[5]
TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Wheeler in the 19th round of the2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed and played for theHelena Brewers of theRookie-levelPioneer League. He played for theWest Virginia Power of theClass ASouth Atlantic League in 2008, and theBrevard County Manatees of theClass A-AdvancedFlorida State League in 2009, being named anAll-Star in both seasons.[3] In 2010, Wheeler played shortstop for theHuntsville Stars of theClass AASouthern League. However, he committed 32errors.[6][7]
In 2011, Wheeler began the season with theNashville Sounds of theClass AAAPacific Coast League, but missed two months due to an injuredposterior cruciate ligament.[8] He played for both Nashville and Huntsville in 2011.[9] After the 2011 season, Wheeler was assigned to theArizona Fall League. He began to catch bullpen sessions. The Brewers also added him to their40-man roster to protect him from being selected in theRule 5 draft. However, the Brewers signedAramis Ramírez to a three-year contract to become the Brewers' third basemen, blocking Wheeler.[7]
Inspring training in 2012, Wheeler competed withTaylor Green andBrooks Conrad for a reserve role as an infielder.[10] He began to work out atcatcher to increase his versatility.[7]
At the end of spring training, the Brewerswaived Wheeler, and he was claimed by theBaltimore Orioles, who assigned him to theNorfolk Tides of the Class AAAInternational League.[6][11] While playing for theBowie Baysox of the Class AAEastern League in May 2012, the Oriolesdesignated Wheeler for assignment, removing him from their 40-man roster, as they addedDana Eveland.[12] He cleared waivers, and was assigned to Bowie.[13] In the offseason, Wheeler played for theAlgodoneros de Guasave in theMexican Pacific League (MPL).[14][15] Wheeler played for Norfolk in 2013.[16]
Playing for Guasave in the 2013–14 offseason, Wheeler was named player of the week on November 11.[17] He finished the MPL season tied for second inhome runs and third inruns batted in (RBIs).[4]
Wheeler signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees, receiving an invitation to spring training in 2014.[18] In camp, Wheeler competed withEduardo Núñez,Yangervis Solarte,Dean Anna, andScott Sizemore for a reserve infielder role with the Yankees.[19] The Yankees promoted Anna, and assigned Wheeler to minor league camp.[20] The Yankees assigned Wheeler to theScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League to start the 2014 season.[21] Wheeler suffered a back injury on April 10, and went on thedisabled list (DL).[22][23] After missing 18 days, he returned to bat .299 with seven home runs in 66 games.[24][25][26]
On July 2, 2014, the Yankees promoted Wheeler to the major leagues.[27] Making his major league debut the next day, Wheeler got his first major league hit, a home run, in his second at bat.[28][29] Wheeler batted 8-for-30 (.267) with two home runs and three RBIs in 16 games for the Yankees, before he was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 1 following the Yankees acquisitions ofMartín Prado andStephen Drew.[28][30][31] The Yankees recalled Wheeler on August 21, when they placedCarlos Beltrán on the DL with an elbow injury.[32]
On November 20, 2014, the Yankees sold Wheeler to theTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ofNippon Professional Baseball'sPacific League.[33][34] In 2015, Wheeler slashed .255/.339/.453 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI for the team. The next year, Wheeler improved his performance, slashing .265/.351/.478 with a staggering 27 home runs and 88 RBI. In 2017, Wheeler batted .271/.343/.493 with 31 home runs and 82 RBI. Wheeler signed a two-year contract extension worth ¥400 million (approximately $3.5 million) in October 2017, the deal includes incentives and a club option for the 2020 season.[35] In 2018, Wheeler hit .269/.337/.432 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI in 106 games. In 117 games for the Eagles in 2019, Wheeler batted .243/.320/.418 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI. On December 3, 2019, Wheeler signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Eagles.[36]
On June 25, 2020, Wheeler was traded to theYomiuri Giants for pitcherShun Ikeda.[37] In 98 games for Yomiuri, Wheeler batted .247/.309/.418 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI.[38]
On December 26, 2021, Wheeler re-signed with the Giants for the 2022 season.[39] On April 18, 2022, Wheeler was sent down to the Giants' farm team after hitting .160 in 13 games.[40]
On December 20, 2022, Wheeler took a front office advisory role with theYomiuri Giants.[citation needed]
Wheeler has a younger brother, Brian, who also plays baseball.[1][2] His father, Sam, owns a landscaping business and supervises at an aquarium. Two of Wheeler's uncles,Dameian Jeffries andMarcus Knight, played in theNational Football League.[1][2]
On July 25, 2015, Wheeler and his wife had a son.[41]
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