Since the 2014 season ended, Zack Wheeler has thrown exactly zero pitches in the major leagues.  First, it was because he needed Tommy John surgery on the eve of the 2015 season.  Then, it was because he had a series of setbacks during this rehab from said surgery throughout the 2016 season.  With that, the Mets have no idea what they are going to get from Wheeler during the 2017 season.

Here is one thing you do know you are not going to get from him: 200 innings.  Asking Wheeler to make 30+ starts and pitch 200 innings is unrealistic, and it is unfair.  Realistically speaking, putting any expectations on him is unfair.

Quite possibly, the best thing for Wheeler for the 2017 season is to transition to the bullpen and have the Mets monitor his usage.  In essence, the Mets could go into the 2017 season enacting a set of Joba Rules for Wheeler.  It is a concept Sandy Alderson floated this offseason saying, “But it may be that coming back after two years, he’s better off pitching out of the ‘pen. He might have to be careful. He might not be able to pitch back-to-back. It might have to be two innings at a time. These are all hypothetical at the moment, but I don’t see any reason to just eliminate the possibility.” (nj.com).

Better put, it is time to give Wheeler the John Smoltz treatment.

Back in 2000, Smoltz had missed the entire season due to season ending surgery because he needed Tommy John surgery.  On the Jonah Keri Podcast, Smoltz stated the Atlanta Braves only wanted him to return as a closer, and because he wanted to remain a Brave, he did what was requested of him.  During his time as a closer, Smoltz stated he learned about mentally what it meant to close.  Notably, Smoltz stated he did not change the way he pitched when he closed games.  Smoltz focused on throwing strikes more than maxing out and trying to strike everyone out.  It is notable that Smoltz was able to save 55 games in 2001, which was his first season back from Tommy John.

While Wheeler won’t be closing with the presence of Jeurys Familia and Addison Reed, there is room for him in the bullpen.  Putting him in the bullpen would permit him to go out there and re-learn how to pitch in one to two inning increments.  It will allow him to rebuild himself as a pitcher much in the way Smoltz had done.  Wheeler could focus on throwing strikes, which has always been an issue for him, and it will allow him to mentally prepare himself to get those big outs in a game.  More importantly, it presents an avenue for Wheeler to help the Mets win the World Series.

What is notable about following the Smoltz model is the fact that Smoltz sees a lot of himself in Wheeler.  Previously on MLB Now, Smoltz stated Wheeler was the one pitcher in the major leagues right now that most reminds him of himself.  In making the comparison, Smoltz noted some factors including the repetoire and Wheeler’s use of the inverted W.  Another factor for the comparison was the player’s respective injury history.  The main difference between the two, aside from Smoltz being a Hall of Famer, was Smoltz’s ability to make adjustments and Smoltz’s having pitched out of the bullpen.

As we have seen, pitching out of the bullpen not only helped Smoltz become an important part of the Braves after his rehab, it also helped prolong his career.  The Smoltz model is one that has proven to be successful, and it proved it is not a bar to returning to the starting rotation.  With that in mind, this could be the preferable route to reintegrating Wheeler onto this Mets team.