| Dan Wheeler | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wheeler with the Boston Red Sox in 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1977-12-10)December 10, 1977 (age 47) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 1, 1999, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| May 13, 2012, for the Cleveland Indians | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 25–43 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.98 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 555 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
| |||||||||||||||
Daniel Michael Wheeler (born December 10, 1977) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball for theTampa Bay Devil Rays,New York Mets,Houston Astros,Boston Red Sox, andCleveland Indians from 1999 through 2012.
Wheeler attendedPilgrim High School inWarwick, Rhode Island. He was drafted in the1996 MLB draft by theTampa Bay Devil Rays out ofCentral Arizona College. After the Devil Rays, he played for theNew York Mets, who traded him to theHouston Astros for minor leaguer Adam Seuss in 2004.
In 2005, Wheeler established himself as a topsetup man for the Astros, going 2-3 with a 2.21ERA in 71 games.
On October 19, 2005 during theNational League Championship Series he recorded the last out atBusch Memorial Stadium inSt. Louis, Missouri, a fly ball which was caught by AstroJason Lane inright field off the bat ofYadier Molina. He played on Team USA in the2006 World Baseball Classic in the offseason.
On April 9, 2007, Wheeler became the Astros'closer, replacingBrad Lidge. However, Wheeler lost the closer's job when Lidge overcame injury and returned to the team.
On July 28, 2007, Wheeler was traded back to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for third basemanTy Wigginton.
He is one of four pitchers who have pitched in at least 70 games each of the four seasons from 2004 to 08, the others beingScott Schoeneweis (who did so for five seasons),Bob Howry, andChad Qualls.
On December 17, 2010, theBoston Red Sox signed Wheeler to a one-year, $3 million contract with a club option for 2012.[1]
On January 26, 2012, Wheeler signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians. He was added to the opening day roster on April 4, 2012. He struggled early, however, with an 8.76 ERA in 12 games.[2] Wheeler was designated for assignment immediately following the game on May 13, 2012, against the Boston Red Sox in which he gave up six earned runs in one inning. After clearing waivers, Wheeler was outrighted to the triple-AColumbus Clippers on May 16, 2012. He appeared in 36 games for Columbus, posting a 3-3 record and a 2.32 ERA.[2] On October 4, 2012, Wheeler elected free agency.[3]
On December 11, 2012, theKansas City Royals confirmed they had signed Wheeler to a minor league contract with an expected invite to Major League spring training, but he would never appear in another major league game.[2] He was released on May 11, 2013.
Wheeler retired in February 2014.[4]
Wheeler is married to Stephanie, who is the daughter of long time Rays play-by-play broadcasterDewayne Staats.
