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Dan Wheeler

Dan Wheeler (born December 10, 1977) is an former who played in (MLB) for 13 seasons from 1999 to 2012. A right-handed reliever known for his versatility in middle relief and setup roles, Wheeler appeared in 589 games, compiling a career record of 25 wins and 43 losses with a 3.98 () and 555 strikeouts over 640.2 . His career spanned five franchises—the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, , Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Indians—highlighted by key postseason contributions, including appearances in the 2004 (NLDS), , 2008 (ALCS) and , and 2010 ALDS. In the playoffs, Wheeler posted a 1–0 record with a 3.38 , 28 strikeouts, and one across 21 games. Born in , and raised in , Wheeler attended Pilgrim High School before being selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 34th round of the 1996 MLB Draft. He honed his skills at , where he earned second-team All-American honors as a pitcher, and represented Team USA at the , earning the United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Month award for baseball that year. Wheeler made his MLB debut on September 1, 1999, with the Devil Rays, initially serving as a starter before transitioning to relief duties. Early in his career, he showed promise with a 3.49 ERA in 2001 but faced inconsistencies, including stints, before establishing himself as a reliable arm after a 2003 trade to the Mets. Wheeler's most productive stretch came with the Astros from 2005 to 2006, where he posted a 2.37 ERA over 144.2 innings and helped the team reach the in 2005. He split 2007 between the Astros and Rays, then remained with the Rays through 2010, before joining the Red Sox in 2011 and the Indians in 2012. After appearing in 12 games for the Indians in 2012, Wheeler signed a minor league deal with the but did not return to the majors, effectively retiring after the season at age 34.

Early life

Upbringing

Dan Wheeler was born on December 10, 1977, in . He grew up in the neighboring city of , where he spent his childhood immersed in the local sports culture. Details on Wheeler's early family life remain limited in , but the setting played a key role in fostering his interest in athletics, particularly , amid a region known for its passionate following of Boston-area teams like the Red Sox. Growing up in Warwick provided early exposure to community sports, including little league play at Warwick West Side, which sparked his enthusiasm for the game. Wheeler attended local schools in , ultimately graduating from Pilgrim High School in 1995. His time there marked the beginning of more structured involvement in high school , laying the groundwork for further amateur pursuits.

Amateur career

Dan Wheeler developed his baseball skills at Pilgrim High School in , where he graduated in 1995. As a standout , he earned two-time All-State honors, showcasing his potential as a right-handed thrower during his high school career. After high school, Wheeler attended in Coolidge, , for one year of , focusing on his role as a , where he earned second-team All-American honors. Following this season, he received an opportunity to play at but chose to pursue a professional path instead. After signing professionally, Wheeler represented Team USA at the , helping the team win a silver medal and earning the United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Month award for that year.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

Wheeler was selected by the Devil Rays in the 34th round (1,024th overall) of the 1996 out of , as a draft-and-follow prospect. He signed with the organization the following year, beginning his professional career in 1997. In 1997, Wheeler made his debut with the of the New York-Penn League, where he posted a 3.00 over 84 , recording 81 strikeouts. He advanced to full-season Class A ball in 1998 with the of the , compiling a 4.43 in a career-high 181 innings, with 136 strikeouts. Wheeler's rapid progression continued in 1999, starting the season with the of the Double-A Southern League (3.26 , 58 innings, 53 strikeouts) before earning a promotion to the Triple-A of the (4.92 , 82.1 innings, 58 strikeouts). After brief appearances in 1999–2001, Wheeler spent the entire 2002 season in Triple-A with the Richmond Braves of the organization in the , transitioning back to a starting role but recording a 4.65 over 155 and 110 strikeouts. He signed a minor league contract with the prior to the 2003 season and pitched for their Triple-A affiliate, the , also in the , where he achieved a 3.94 in 45.2 with 44 strikeouts. Across his career spanning multiple levels from Class A to Triple-A, Wheeler appeared in 243 games (130 starts), posting a 66–56 record with a 4.38 , 789 strikeouts, and 1021.1 . This development culminated in his debut with the Devil Rays on September 1, 1999, following his strong showings in the Tampa Bay system, though he did not appear in the majors during the 2002 season.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999–2001)

Dan Wheeler made his Major League Baseball debut on September 1, 1999, as a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against the Baltimore Orioles at age 21. In that game, he pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 home run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, resulting in the loss (L, 0-1) as the Devil Rays lost 3-1. Wheeler appeared in 6 games that September, all as starts, compiling a 0-4 record over 30.2 innings pitched with a 5.87 ERA, 35 hits allowed, 7 home runs, 13 walks, and 32 strikeouts. His outings included a career-high 12 strikeouts on September 12 against the Oakland Athletics, though he took the loss after allowing 4 earned runs in 6 innings. In the 2000 season, Wheeler split time between starting and relief roles for the Devil Rays, making 11 appearances, including 2 starts early in the year. He earned his first MLB win on April 6 against the Minnesota Twins, pitching 6 innings and allowing 4 runs (all earned) in a 7-5 victory, but struggled in his next start on April 12, yielding 6 earned runs in 3.2 innings during a 10-3 loss to the New York Yankees. Returning from the minors in September, he worked primarily in relief, posting scoreless outings in several late-season games but finishing with a 1-1 record, 5.48 ERA over 23 innings, 29 hits, 14 earned runs, 2 home runs, 11 walks, and 17 strikeouts. Wheeler's role shifted fully to relief in 2001, where he made 13 appearances for from April to June, often pitching multiple . Despite securing a win on May 5 against the after 2 scoreless , his performance was hampered by control issues and hard contact, leading to a 1-0 record but an 8.66 across 17.2 , with 30 hits, 17 earned runs, 3 home runs, 5 walks, and 12 strikeouts. Over his first three seasons with the Devil Rays (1999–2001), Wheeler totaled 30 appearances (8 starts), a 2-5 record, 71.1 , 94 hits allowed, 51 earned runs for a 6.46 , 12 home runs, 29 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Following the 2001 season, the Devil Rays released Wheeler, prompting him to sign as a with the Atlanta Braves organization for play in 2002.

New York Mets (2003–2004)

Wheeler signed with the as a on January 27, 2003. He began the season in Triple-A with the , where he posted a 4-2 record with a 3.18 ERA in 11 starts before earning a call-up to the majors in late May. During the 2003 season, Wheeler transitioned fully to a role with the Mets, making 35 appearances out of the with no starts. He recorded a 1-3 record, a 3.71 , 35 strikeouts, and 2 saves over 51 . This marked a significant evolution from his earlier starting attempts in , as the Mets utilized him primarily in middle to stabilize their pitching staff. In 2004, Wheeler continued in for the Mets, logging 32 appearances (including one start) before the deadline, with a 3-1 record and a 4.80 across 50.2 , striking out 46 batters. On August 27, 2004, the Mets d him to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Adam Seuss. Over his two seasons with the Mets, Wheeler appeared in 67 games, compiling a 4-4 record with a 4.25 and 2 saves in 101.2 innings, solidifying his role as a reliable middle reliever.

Houston Astros (2004–2007)

Wheeler joined the Houston Astros late in the 2004 season via trade from the on August 27, in exchange for Adam Seuss. In 14 regular-season appearances with Houston, he recorded a 2.51 over 14.1 with 9 strikeouts, providing reliable relief support as the team advanced to the postseason. In the against the Cardinals, Wheeler made 4 appearances, pitching 7.1 scoreless innings while allowing just 2 hits and striking out 8, contributing to the Astros' effort despite their 4-3 series loss. The 2005 season marked Wheeler's most productive year with the Astros, where he solidified his role as a high-leverage setup reliever with a career-best 2.21 in 71 appearances, tallying 69 strikeouts over 73.1 and earning 3 saves. He appeared in all three postseason rounds that year, including 3 games in the NL Division Series against (4.1 IP, 2.08 ), 3 in the NLCS against (2.2 IP, 0.00 ), and 2 in the against the (2 IP, 13.50 ), for a total of 8 games with a 4.00 across 9 . In 2006, Wheeler continued as a key , making 75 appearances with a 2.52 , 68 strikeouts in 71.1 , and 9 saves while helping bridge to closer . During his Astros tenure, Wheeler's pitching style emphasized a hard as his primary out pitch, complemented by a low-90s , with strong command and a quick tempo that allowed him to efficiently handle high-pressure situations. In 2007, he began the season as following Brad Lidge's injury, notching 11 saves in 45 appearances with a 5.07 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and 49.2 before being traded to the Devil Rays on July 28 for Wigginton.

Tampa Bay Rays (2007–2011)

Wheeler returned to the (then known as the Devil Rays until their rebranding in 2008) midway through the 2007 season when he was traded from the Houston Astros on July 28 in exchange for Wigginton and cash. In 25 appearances to finish the year, he recorded a 0-5 record with a 5.76 over 25 , with 26 strikeouts. The 2008 season marked a significant resurgence for Wheeler as a key middle reliever during the Rays' transformative campaign. Appearing in a career-high 70 games, he achieved a 3.12 across 66.1 , earning 5 wins against 6 losses and notching 13 saves. His steady performance helped anchor the as the Rays clinched their first title and advanced to the , defeating the Boston Red Sox in a thrilling seven-game ALCS. Wheeler contributed in the postseason, pitching 8.2 over 7 appearances across the ALDS, ALCS, and , where he earned 1 save in the ALCS despite a 6.23 in those outings. Wheeler maintained consistent production in the following seasons as a reliable . In 2009, he appeared in 69 games with a 3.28 in 57.2 , recording 4 wins, 5 losses, and 2 saves while striking out 45 batters. The 2010 campaign saw him in 64 outings, posting a 3.35 over 48.1 with 2 wins, 4 losses, and 3 saves, adding 46 strikeouts as he neared his career total of 555. Over his second stint with the Rays from 2007 to 2010, Wheeler made 228 relief appearances, compiling an 11-20 record, 18 saves, a 3.62 , and 170 strikeouts in 197.1 , providing valuable stability during the team's shift from losers to contenders. Following the 2010 season, he entered free agency and signed a one-year, $3 million with the Boston Red Sox on December 18, 2010, with a club option for 2012.

Boston Red Sox (2011)

Dan Wheeler began the 2011 season with the Boston Red Sox after signing as a the previous December. In 47 appearances, Wheeler posted a 4.38 over 49.1 , recording 39 strikeouts while struggling somewhat with command in the high-pressure setup role. Wheeler contributed to the Red Sox bullpen amid a tumultuous late-season stretch, including the infamous September collapse where Boston lost nine of their final 12 games, ultimately missing the on the final day. Despite the team's push faltering, Wheeler appeared in key games during this period, providing veteran stability as a right-handed reliever, though his performance did not significantly alter the unit's overall inconsistencies. Following the 2011 season, Wheeler became a and was not re-signed by the Red Sox, marking the end of his tenure with the club.

Cleveland Indians (2012)

Following his stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2011, Wheeler signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on January 26, 2012, including an invitation to . He impressed enough during camp to secure a spot on the roster, with the team purchasing his contract from Triple-A on April 4. Wheeler appeared in 12 games out of the for the Indians from April 7 to May 13, primarily in middle relief roles. Over 12.1 innings, he posted an 8.76 , allowing 17 hits, 12 earned runs, three home runs, and seven walks while recording just two strikeouts. His performances were inconsistent, with several outings featuring wild pitches and multiple baserunners, though he did earn one hold on against the . On May 14, 2012, the Indians designated Wheeler for assignment to clear a roster spot. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A on May 16, but with more than five years of MLB service time, Wheeler elected free agency rather than accepting the assignment. His final appearance came the day before his designation, on May 13 against the Red Sox, where he struggled in , surrendering five hits, six earned runs (including one ), one walk, and a wild pitch in just one inning during a 12-1 loss.

Kansas City Royals (2012)

Following his designation for assignment by the Cleveland Indians on May 14, 2012, and subsequent election of free agency on October 4, 2012, Wheeler signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on December 11, 2012, including an invitation to 2013 spring training. Wheeler reported to the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League, on March 28, 2013, where he appeared in 11 games as a reliever. In those outings, he recorded a 1–3 mark with a 9.00 ERA over 15 innings pitched, allowing 28 hits and 5 walks while striking out 10 batters. He was released by Omaha on May 11, 2013. Wheeler attempted a return to affiliated baseball later in 2013 but did not secure another contract and never appeared in another major league game. On February 7, 2014, Wheeler announced his retirement from at age 36. Over 13 seasons from 1999 to 2012, he appeared in 589 games—mostly in —for five teams, compiling a 25–43 record, 3.98 , 555 strikeouts, and 43 saves in 640⅔ . His peripatetic path across organizations highlighted the challenges and longevity of a journeyman middle in modern .

Personal life

Family

Dan Wheeler married Staats in November 2003, and the couple has been together for over 21 years as of 2025. is the daughter of , a longtime play-by-play broadcaster for the , creating a notable family connection to the organization during Wheeler's tenure with the team. The Wheelers have three children: sons Gabe (born around 2005) and Zach (born around 2008), and daughter Evie (born around 2011). Gabe, a right-handed like his father, committed to the and has been active on the baseball team there, currently as a junior as of 2025. Zach has shown interest in pitching, aspiring to follow in the family tradition. Evie is a dedicated dancer, pursuing her passion in the arts. Throughout Wheeler's MLB career, his family provided essential support amid frequent travels and team relocations, ultimately settling in Clearwater, Florida, to establish roots near the Rays' spring training facilities. This move allowed the family to remain closely tied to the Tampa Bay area, enhancing their involvement with the Rays community through the Staats family legacy.

Post-retirement activities

After retiring from in February 2014 following a 13-year career, Dan Wheeler had attempted a minor league comeback with the ' Triple-A affiliate in 2013 but was released in May of that year. Wheeler has resided in , since his time with the in the mid-2000s, where his family relocated during that tenure. In May 2021, he was hired as the head coach at Clearwater Central Catholic High School, succeeding the retiring Todd Vaughan. Under Wheeler's leadership, the Marauders posted records of 13–13 in 2022–23, 12–14 in 2023–24, and 9–17 in 2024–25 as of the conclusion of that season, qualifying for the FHSAA regional playoffs twice (2023 and 2024). In addition to his high school role, Wheeler coaches a traveling youth baseball team, emphasizing the development of young pitchers and serving as a role model for players, including his son Gabe, a right-handed pitcher who plays for the . His post-retirement focus remains on local coaching and family life in Clearwater, with no reported involvement in other business ventures.

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