Dan Wheeler #35

Full name is Daniel Michael Wheeler...married to Stephanie...the couple has two sons, Gabriel (8) and Zachary (5), and one daughter, Elizabeth (2)...Father-in-law is longtime Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Dewayne Staats...Graduated from Pilgrim (R.I.) High School in 1995...was a two-time All-State selection in baseball...Attended Central Arizona Junior College and earned second-team All-American honors...Pitched for Team USA in the 1999 Pan-American Games...named 1999 USOC Baseball Athlete of the Year...Has been heavily involved in the community, participating in several programs including Reading with the Rays and Challenger Jamboree.

2012

Dan opened the season on the Cleveland roster and made 12 appearances for the Indians before being designated for assignment on May 14...Spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Columbus.

2011

He spent the entire 2011 season with the Boston Red Sox (4.38ERA, 47G, 49.1IP, 47H, 24ER, 39K) save a two-week stint on the 15-day DL in May with a left calf strain (5/5-20)...He posted an ERA of 0.84 (10.2IP, 1ER) in 10 games versus the AL Central Division and tallied 11 straight scoreless appearances (12.2IP) from July 18-August 21 before being shut down on September 8 with right forearm soreness...He limited right-handed batters to a .227 (27-119) average against....Walked just 8 batters in 49.1IP (1.5BB/9.0IP) and did not walk a batter from August 7-Sept. 7 (12.1IP)...Posted an ERA of 0.96 in August (10G, 9.1IP, 1ER)...His 466 appearances since the 2005 season rank fourth in Major League Baseball over the seven-year span. For his career he has walked just 2.7 batters and fanned 7.9 hitters per 9.0IP and owns five seasons with at least 64 appearances and a sub 3.35 ERA. The Warwick, RI native has appeared in two World Series' (2005 HOU, 2008 TB) and owns a career ERA of 3.38 in 21 postseason outings (26.2IP, 21H, 10ER, 28K)...In his career RH batters own a mark of .218 off him.

2010

Allowed just 18.2 percent of his inherited runners to score (6 of 33), the 2nd-best rate in the American League behind Chicago's Matt Thornton (12.9 percent, 4 of 31). Held opponents to a .207 average (36-for-174), including .154 (6-for-39) against left-handed hitters...Limited righties to a .222 mark (30-for-135)...Opposing batters hit just .125 (5-for-40) with runners in scoring position. Recorded 3 saves, including 2 in a span of 5 days (7/29 vs. DET and 8/2 vs. MIN)...1st save came on 7/8 vs. CLE, the 3rd different pitcher in 3 nights to record a save for the Rays following Rafael Soriano and Matt Garza...On 7/29, recorded a 2.0-inning save, his longest as a Ray and 2nd longest of his career behind a 3.0-inning save on 6/18/03 at FLA with the Mets. Did not allow a run in 9 outings (6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 10 SO) against the Red Sox, lowering his career ERA against Boston to 1.89 (7 ER/33.1 IP) in 37 games. On 6/13 vs. FLA, allowed his 1st career run against the Marlins after Dan Uggla drove in Hanley Ramirez on a sac fly...Entering the game, no other pitcher in history had more innings (23.2 in 23 games) vs. Florida without allowing a run. Lost consecutive appearances, 9/14 vs. NYY and 9/17 vs. LAA, both coming on game-winning home runs (Jorge Posada and Brandon Wood)...Hadn't allowed homers in back-to-back outings since 5/17-18/08 at STL. Following the 2 losses, had 7 scoreless outings to close out the regular season.

2009

Finished one game shy of his 5th consecutive season of 70+ appearances...his 355 appearances over the last 5 seasons are 4th most in the majors...Walked only 9 batters (2-IBB) all season including only 3 (1-IBB) after May 29...his 1.40 walks per 9 IP led AL relievers and ranked 2nd in the majors to ARI Chad Qualls (1.21)... walked only 2 batters on the road in 32 appearances (26.2-IP)...His strikeouts-to-walks ratio (45 to 9) was 5th best among major league relievers...Opponents batted .199, 12th lowest among AL relievers and 2nd lowest on the staff behind J.P. Howell (.197)...it was Wheeler's 2nd consecutive season in which he has held opponents under .200...righthanders batted only .156 (23-142), 3rd lowest among AL relievers behind KC Robinson Tejeda (.125) and TOR Jason Frasor (.140)...first batters hit .172 (11- 65), tied for 7th in the AL...Allowed 7.80 base runners per 9 innings, 2nd best among AL relievers behind NYY Phil Hughes (7.71)...Matched his career high with 11 home runs allowed, tied with BAL Brian Bass for 2nd most among AL relievers...has allowed 32 home runs the past 3 seasons, most among major league relievers...Take away his 6 appearances vs. the Yankees (4.1-IP, 11-ER) and his overall ERA goes from 3.28 to 1.68...while the Yankees hit .480 (12- 25) off him, the rest of the AL East batted only .125 (11-88) including .080 (2-25) by the Red Sox...overall the AL East batted only .204 off him, 5th best in the AL (min. 100 AB)...Did not allow a run in .. 10 interleague apps (9-IP) and retired 25 of 29 batters faced...Had a stretch of 14 consecutive scoreless apps (13.2-IP) between June 10 and July 9.

2008

Led the staff with 70 appearances, becoming only the 3rd pitcher in Rays history to appear in 70 or more games...joined Shawn Camp (75 in 2006) and Roberto Hernandez (72 in 1998)... gave him 4 straight seasons of 70 apps...his 286 appearances since 2005 are tied for 7th most among ML pitchers. Finished second on the team with a career-high 13 saves...was 13-for-18 in save opps...his first 10 saves came while Troy Percival was on the DL...picked up his first save May 28 when Percival left with a injury...was his first save since June 8, 2007 at CWS while with Houston. Won a career-high five games on the season. Opponents hit just .183 (44-240) against him, 9th-lowest among major league relievers... held opponents to a .250 on-base pct., 10thlowest in the majors. Collected 26 holds, 2nd in the AL to LAA Scot Shields (31). Allowed 10 HR, 9th-most by an AL reliever. Compiled a 2.38 ERA (41.2-IP, 11-ER) over the first half of the season, but pitched to a 4.37 ERA (24.2-IP, 12-ER) after the All-Star break... his ERA remained below 2.00 as late as July 6 and below 3.00 as late as Sep 17. Picked up his first victory of the season May 30 vs. CWS...tossed a scoreless 9th before Cliff Floyd hit a walk-off homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the 9th. On June 21 vs. HOU, defeated his former team for his 2nd win, recording a pair of outs in the top of the 9th before the Rays rallied to win on a Gabe Gross walk-off double. Won his fifth game of the season on Sep 16 vs. Boston, retiring one batter before the Rays won 2-1 on Dioner Navarro's walk-off single, the Rays 11th and final walk-off victory of the season.

2007

Twenty-nine year-old was acquired July 28 from the Astros in exchange for INF Ty Wigginton ... Pitched in 25 of 58 games over the season's final two months, working primarily in 8th-inning set-up role ... only Gary Glover (27) and Scott Dohmann (27) appeared in more games for the Rays over that span ... Pitched in a total of 70 games between the Rays and Astros, his 3rd season of 70+ outings ... career high is 75 in 2006 ... COMBINED: 1-9-11, 5.30 ERA, 74.2-IP, 74-H, 44- ER, 11-HR. 23-BB, 82-SO ... His 216 appearances over the last 3 seasons are 8th most in the majors over that span ... His 82 strikeouts tied for 12th most among major league relievers ... His 3.57 strikeouts-to-walk ratio was 10th best among major league relievers that worked 70 or more innings ... Suffered 5 defeats with the Rays, tied for 2nd most among club relievers (Brian Stokes-7) ... had 9 combined on the season, most among ML relievers ... Made his season debut with the Rays July 30 throwing 1.1 scoreless vs. Toronto ... threw another scoreless frame 2 days later in a win over the Jays ... Last outing was Sep 29 at Toronto ... recorded the 5-3 loss, allowing 4 unearned runs in the 8th ... allowed a 3-run HR to Adam Lind ... Pitched well vs. the AL East, working to a 3.63 ERA (17.1-IP, 14-H, 7-ER) in 18 games, while allowing just a .215 opp. avg. ... Was 1-4 with a career-high 11 saves and a 5.07 ERA in 45 games for the Astros prior to the deal ... Did not allow a run in 10 of 12 appearances lead- ing up to the trade (1.76 ERA, 15.1-IP, 3-ER). Was tied for 7th among National League relievers with 56 strikeouts ... Converted 10 consecutive saves from April 9-June 5 ... included were 3 consecutive saves at Cincinnati May 7-9 ... Lone win was June 24 at Texas, despite allowing 3 home runs ... tied his career high (also May 10, 2004 at Arizona) ... Was Wheeler's 2nd tour with the Rays ... was originally selected as the Rays' 34 pick in the franchise's inaugural 1996 draft ... he reached the Rays in 1999 and went 2-5 with a 6.43 ERA over 30 appearances (8 starts) over parts of the next three seasons ... Is the third player to return to the Rays after spending time with another organization, joining RHP Lee Gardner and C Tim Laker ... Was 12-21 with 25 saves and a 3.99 ERA in 302 career games (9 starts) with the Rays, Mets and Astros before being reacquired by Tampa Bay ... Owns postseason experience in 2004 and 2005 with the Astros allowing just 4 runs in 17.0 IP, a 2.21 ERA ... Is the son-in-law of Rays TV broadcaster Dewayne Staats ... resides in Seminole, Fla. Pitched for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

2006

Posted a 3-5 record with nine saves and a 2.52 ERA (20ER/71.1IP) in a career-high 75 appearances...71.1 innings were two shy of his career-high 73.1 in 2005, and his 68 strikeouts were one away from his career-best 69, also in 2005...limited opponents to a .221 average, including a .184 average after the All-Star Break...allowed only five home runs...posted a 1.86 ERA (8ER/38.2IP) in 37 home games...recorded a 3.31 ERA (12ER/32.2IP) in 38 road games...posted a 1.11 ERA (4ER/32.1IP) in the second half, the fifth-lowest for any NL reliever since the All-Star Break (min. 15 app.) and the fourth-lowest in Houston franchise history in the 2nd half (min. 30 appearances)...posted an 0.82 ERA (1ER/11IP) in 12 July games...pitched 6.2 scoreless innings in seven appearances against the Cubs...has now pitched 22.2 scoreless innings in 20 career games pitched vs. the Cubs...posted a 1.42 ERA in seven Interleague outings (1ER/6.1IP)...recorded his ninth save on Sept. 30 at ATL (extending his career-high total)...converted 9 of 12 save chances in 2006...pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in a 15-inning win on Sept. 27 at PIT, his longest outing since a 3.0-inning appearances in Game 4 of the NLDS (18-inning win over ATL)...recorded his eighth save of the year on Sept. 25 at PHI...earned his third win after allowing one run during 1.0 inning on Sept. 23 vs. STL...his third win tied a career-high set in 2004...struck out one in 1.0 scoreless inning Sept. 21 vs. STL to earn his career-high seventh save...earned his sixth save of the season despite yielding a ninth-inning pinch-hit homer (Hollandsworth) during 1.0 inn. on Sept. 18 vs. CIN...yielded an eighth-inning homer (Fielder) on Aug. 31 vs. MIL, his first run allowed in the second half, ending a span of 17.2 scoreless inn. over 21 appearances...did not allow a run in 31 of his last 35 outings since July 18...also did not allowed a run in 37 of his last 42 appearances since June 25 (1.14 ERA, 5ER/39.1IP) and in 44 of his last 50 (1.19 ERA, 6ER/45.1IP)...allowed one run in 12.0 innings in Aug., posting a 0.75 ERA (1ER/12.0IP), the fourth-lowest ERA among NL pitchers with at least 10IP...earned his first win of the season on June 21 vs. MIN...suffered the loss on April 9 at LAD, allowing four earned runs, his most in a game since July 26, 2004 for the Mets at Montreal...also suffered the loss on May 1 at MIL...did not allow a run in 11 of his 12 appearances in July, posting a 0.82 ERA (1ER/11IP) for the month, the third-lowest ERA among pitchers with at least 10 IP...pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in his first five appearances of the season...pitched for Team USA in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

2005

Went 2-3 with a 2.21 ERA (18ER/73.1IP) in a career-high 71 appearances, including three saves...also posted a career-high total in innings pitched with 73.1...finished sixth in the NL with a 9.20 baserunners-per-nine-innings ratio...opponents hit .204 against him in 2005...posted a 2.08 ERA (1ER/4.1IP) in three NLDS appearances vs. ATL... pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in three NLCS games vs. STL...allowed three runs in 2.0 innings pitched in two World Series appearances (13.50 ERA)...pitched 0.1 scoreless inning in NLDS Game 3...pitched 3.0 innings in NLDS Game 4, allowing no runs...pitched 1.0 scoreless inning in NLCS Game 4 and 0.2 scoreless innings in NLCS Game 5...pitched 1.0 scoreless inning and recorded the final out (Y. Molina) in NLCS Game 6...allowed three runs in 0.2 innings in World Series Game 2...pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in World Series Game 3...pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in his last four appearances and allowed one run in his last 10 outings of the regular season from Sept. 11-Oct. 2 (1.00 ERA, 1ER/9.0IP)...did not allow a run in 57 of his 71 outings...allowed three runs on two hits and three walks on Sept. 7 at PHI...snapped a streak of 11 consecutive games without walking a hitter...allowed five combined runs (all earned) in a span of consecutive appearances, on Sept. 7 at PHI and Sept. 10 at MIL...subtracting those two outings, he recorded a 1.61 ERA (13ER/72.2IP) in his 69 other games pitched in 2005...posted a 1.64 ERA (7ER/38.1IP) in the first half that was the thirdlowest in the National League...had a 2.83 ERA (11ER/35IP) in the second half...had a 1.64 ERA (2ER/11IP) in April and a 1.54 ERA (2ER/11.2) in May...owned a 1.45 ERA (6ER/37.1IP) in 35 games at home...earned his second win on Aug. 12 vs. PIT...posted a 1.23 ERA in July (2ER/14.2IP)...recorded his first win of the year on July 28 vs. NYM, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings...notched his third save on July 6 vs. SD and had saves in three consecutive appearances (July 1-6)...recorded his first save of 2005 and the third of his career on July 1 vs. CIN...was his first save since July 22, 2003 vs. PHI for NYM...did not allow a run in 10 consecutive outings from May 5-27 (7.1IP) and from June 21-July 19 (11.1IP)...tagged with his second loss of the year on April 18 at ATL after allowing a solo homer in the 12th (Langerhans)...suffered his first loss of the season on April 13 at NYM after allowing an 11th-inning run... pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with one hit and one run on April 11 at NYM.

2004

Acquired by Houston on Aug. 27 from the New York Mets in exchange for minor league outfielder Adam Seuss...did not allow a run in 12 of his 14 appearances as an Astro, posting a 2.51 ERA (4ER/14.1IP) with no decisions...had a career-high three wins with the Mets...combined for a career-high 46 appearances between Houston (14) and the Mets (32), and a career-high 65 innings (14.1 with HOU; 50.2 with NYM)...made five postseason appearances, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts...tossed a scoreless seventh inning in Game 4 of the NLCS vs. St. Louis to earn his first career playoff win...became the first Astros reliever to notch a LCS win since Dave Smith in 1980 (G2 vs. Philadelphia)... pitched two scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NLCS at Atlanta...allowed two runs on Oct. 2 vs. Colorado, only the second time he allowed a run with Houston (last, Sept. 10 at PIT)...suspended for three games as a result of being ejected on Aug. 29 at the Chicago Cubs...served his suspension from Sept. 24-26...allowed two runs on four hits over one inning on Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh in the Astros 6-1 loss...snapped a streak of 5.2 scoreless innings over five games since joining the Astros...pitched 1.2 scoreless innings on Aug. 29 at the Cubs...ejected after hitting Derrek Lee with a pitch with two outs in the ninth...was his first outing with Houston...acquired by Houston from the New York Mets on Aug. 27... was 3-1 with a 4.80 ERA (27ER/50.2IP) in 32 games (one start) for the Mets this season...had two stints at Triple A Norfolk...tossed a Mets bullpen season-high 4.1 innings on Aug. 17 at Colorado...marked a career-long relief outing...earned his career-high third win of the year with 1.2 scoreless innings on July 9 at Florida ....tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the win on May 16 at Houston...notched the victory on May 9 vs. Milwaukee after hurling a scoreless 11th inning in the 6-5 Mets win...made an emergency start on April 8 at Atlanta...allowed three earned runs on six hits over four innings...marked his first start since April 12, 2000 with Tampa Bay.

2003

Finished the year 1-3 with a 3.71 ERA (21ER/51IP) with two saves in 35 appearances for the Mets...established career-highs in innings pitched, games, strikeouts and saves and tied his career-high in wins...held lefthanded batters to a .197 (14-71) average...finished unscored upon in 12 of his last 15 outings dating back to Aug. 13...also did not permit an earned run in 8.2 innings from Aug. 5-22, a career-high...stranded the bases loaded on Sept. 21 vs. Montreal...did not allow the last 10 inherited runners to score dating back to Aug. 13...earned his first National League win and first victory with the Mets on Sept. 1 in a 3-2 win vs. Atlanta...hurled 1.2 scoreless innings...marked his first Major League win since May 23, 2001, with Tampa Bay vs. Texas...tossed a season-high and tied his career-high with 4.0 innings of relief on July 29 vs. Milwaukee...earned his second save of the year on July 22 at Philadelphia...entered the game and stranded the bases loaded, working 0.2 scoreless innings on June 27 at Yankee Stadium...notched his first Major League save with 3.0 scoreless and hitless innings on June 18 at Florida in his first appearance with the Mets...also had two strikeouts in that contest...contract purchased from Triple A Norfolk of the International League on June 18th... was 4-2 with four saves and a 3.94 ERA in 22 games, five starts for the Tides.

2002

Started the year in the Atlanta Braves organization...went 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA in 25 starts and 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA in two games in relief for Triple A Richmond of the International League...compiled a 6-0 mark with a 3.86 ERA (16 earned runs in 37.1 innings) in six starts in the month of June...held right-handed batters to a .240 (87x363) average... did not record a decision on July 11 at Toledo and hurled 8.1 innings, allowing one earned run with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

2001

Began the season with Triple A Durham of the International League in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization... allowed one earned run in 9.0 innings over two starts before he was recalled by Tampa Bay on April 18...optioned to Durham on April 25...during two stints with the Devil Rays, he allowed two of five inherited runners to score and first batters were 6x12 against him...recalled again on May 10th...tossed a season-high 4.0 innings on May 31 at Oakland... optioned back to Durham on June 14...assigned to Double A Orlando of the Southern League on July 16...promoted to Durham on Aug. 1.

2000

Opened the season with Tampa Bay and had two stints in the Majors...earned his first Major League victory on Oct. 1 in the final day of the season, a 3-2 win over Boston...worked 0.2 innings...recalled for a second time on Sept. 4...made eight relief appearances - his first big league relief appearances...his first eight Major League outings were starts...started on April 6 in his season debut and did not recorded a decision, allowing four earned runs over 6.0 innings...equaled the shortest start of his career on April 12 vs. the White Sox, tossing 3.2 innings with six runs and suffered the loss...made the club out of Spring Training and had two starts before he was optioned to Triple A Durham on April 13...started 26 games for the Bulls, finishing 5-11 with a 5.63 ERA...worked 6.0 innings or more in 19 of his 26 starts at Durham, including 12 straight from April 27-June 24...led the Bulls staff with 26 starts, 150.1 innings pitched and 91 strikeouts.

1999

Made his Major League debut on Sept. 1 with Tampa Bay vs. Baltimore...worked 5.0 innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts, but suffered the loss in the Orioles 3-1 win...became the youngest player ever to appear in a game with Tampa Bay (21 years, seven months), and the Devil Ray's third draft pick to reach the Majors...remained in the rotation the final month of the season and made six starts, going 0-4 with a 5.87 ERA...17 of his 20 runs surrendered were home runs...hurled 6.0 innings with 12 strikeouts on Sept. 11 vs. Oakland in a 4-3 loss...the 12 strikeouts set a franchise record...Wilson Alvarez held the previous Tampa Bay mark with 11 strikeouts...began the year at Double A Orlando...promoted to Triple A Durham on May 9...won his first five decisions between the two clubs...tossed a fourhit, complete-game shutout in a 3-0 victory vs. Ottawa on Aug. 16.

1998

Spent the season at Class A Charleston...finished second in the Tampa Bay organization in wins (12) and strikeouts (136), and ranked second in the South Atlantic League in innings pitched (181).

1997

Began his professional career with Hudson Valley...named the Devil Rays minor league Co-Pitcher of the Month for August, going 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 40 strikeouts.