AZGIANTS.COM had a chance to interview newly dubbed #3 prospect Zack Wheeler.

I got a chance to catch the last 2 Instruct league games and Wheeler got the start against the Brewers yesterday. I was very excited because there is no way to really tell who will be starting except for showing up. I talked to Zach last week and he said he'd throw sometime this week so I cleared my schedule to hopefully get a glimpse and it worked out.

He went 2IP 1H 0ER 1K 0BB

He did a great job for his debut only allowing a second inning triple (or possibly a double + E8) on a 1-2 count. Better than Strasburg did...I have video of the innings on my youtube page please go and have a look. The innings broke down as follows since some action happened out of frame.

1st

VIDEO 1

0-1 count GO 4-3

2-1 count GO 6-3

1-2 count K

2nd

VIDEO 2

0-0 count GO 6-3

1-2 count Triple Right Center, maybe a double with error

1-2 count LO 4 - 5DP - Noonan! with a diving stab to save a run and doubled up the guy on 3rd as he was going on contact.

Todays game featured some guys we already have some knowledge on. 3 guys really stuck out to me, Adrianza, Peguero, and another catching prospect Monell.

SS - Adrianza has good plate discipline, contact, and a little pop. He hit a jack to right field. I would say he's probably an average to slightly above average shortstop with the glove.

CF - Peguero has a freaking cannon. Runner @ third, and a sac fly to mid/deep center. He didn't get him at the plate but the ball was there in time a little up the 3rd base line, Monelli didn't handle it.

C - Monell did a great job behind the plate and seems to have pop as well. So many balls in the dirt today, but none of them got passed him to advance the runner. One he even laid out, across his body, like belly flop to snag it from being wild. His arm showed well as he gunned down a runner at 2nd and almost got a couple with some snap throws to first.

I hope you guys enjoy this info as much as I enjoy scouting the future of our team.

Here are some stills of Wheeler

via farm3.static.flickr.com

Here's the Gallery

Got a chance to go watch the first game of instructional league today @ Papago in Phoenix. No Wheeler, but Joseph started at catcher.

I got there in the second so I couldn't figure out who was at the top of the order since they use DH but the starters included the following:

Wendall Fairley, Nick Liles, Charlie Culberson, Chris Dominguez, Ehire Adrianza, Brandon Belt, Francisco Peguero, Evan Crawford, Tommy Joseph, and Aaron King on the hill, followed by Jorge Bucardo.

All in all it was great to see all these guys play on the same team, but Tommy Joseph really grabbed some attention.

To my eye, he did a great job behind the plate and definitely looks comfortable there, but it was his pop that had those in attendance, mostly scouts, writing down notes. I only saw his first 2AB's and was pleasantly surprised by the contact made with the wood bat.

His first AB he hit a loud out to straight away center, which was 408 to the wall on field #2. I'd say it traveled at least 395 - 400ft when the center fielder snagged it.

His second AB he worked the count 1-0, 2-0, 2-1(swinging strike), 3-1, and then crushed the ball over LF wall marker was about 370-380 and it cleared it handily probably 395 or so. I linked a you tube of the AB here, sorry for the quality and the fence, I only had my point and shoot. I will try to go to the game tomorrow to get some footage of Wheeler, he wasn't at the game today.

I am now blacked out from the Padres series because MLB has decided that Phoenix is part of the San Diego market. Bastards. So looking forward to some day baseball on Labor day only to be screwed by Selig and his idiocy. I live in a completely different state with a Major League team in town you douche, why would you blackout all Padres games here? They aren't even available on television, if I wanted to watch.

I know this issue has been beaten to death but I am freaking pissed after getting off the phone with CS with my only answer being, "well because it is, we don't really know."