Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler told the New York Daily News pitching in the Pacific Coast League has been a mental challenge. Pitching in the thin air and high-altitude atmopsheres is messing with Wheeler's psyche, which helps explain a 5.79 ERA through five starts for one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
"I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal but it’s always in the back of your mind," Wheeler said. "You’re going to get hit from time to time, but sometimes you make a pitch and you say, 'Man, that was a good pitch but it was still off the wall.' It makes you second-guess yourself when it really shouldn’t. It’s human nature but you’ve gotta keep your head on straight and go out and battle."
Wheeler said the lack of moisture in the air affects his ability to grip the baseball.
"Every time after I throw a pitch, I’ve gotta lick my fingers," he said. "Sometimes, before I even throw the next pitch, I’ve gotta step off and lick them again because my fingers are already dry again. It takes some adjusting."
While Wheeler is dealing with some adversity, Triple-A Las Vegas manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Randy St. Clair are not the least bit worried. They continue to say Wheeler is as good as advertised.
"There’s no crisis here," Backman said. "The crisis would be if his 98 (on the radar gun) was only 91."