Dan Wheeler

Daniel Wheeler

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 222 lb.
• School Central Arizona College
• High School Pilgrim High School
• Debut September 1, 1999
• Final Game May 13, 2012
• Born December 10, 1977 in Providence, RI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dan Wheeler became closer of the Houston Astros in 2007 when Brad Lidge struggled, but faded and Lidge reclaimed the role. Wheeler was then dealt to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Ty Wigginton. He took over as closer for an injured Troy Percival in the postseason as a result of some outstanding work during the 2008 regular season. In 2009, he was back pitching middle relief, as J.P. Howell did most of the closing after Percival and Jason Isringhausen proved incapable of filling the role.

In the 1999 Pan American Games, Wheeler went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA for Team USA with 11 strikeouts in 10 innings. He made his biggest impact in the semifinal game which determined who would advance to the 2000 Olympics. In that contest, he relieved Mark Mulder in the 7th inning and threw four hitless, scoreless innings against the Mexican national team as the US rallied to win in the 10th.