When You Wear Number-98 in Spring Training...

...you don't expect to be in the major leagues by the Fourth of July. But that's Zelous Wheeler's story. Invited to Yankee camp on a minor league deal, he impressed the organization, perhaps not as much as Yangervis Solarte did, but clearly he opened some eyes. And he kept on impressing for three months at Scranton, hitting .299 with 20 doubles and 7 homers, while showing his versatility by playing several positions. Here, he's late-inning substitute, batting (and running hard to 1st) against the Nationals. 
This is why I love coming to spring training. Wheeler (as well as Solarte, who was optioned to Triple A to make room for Wheeler) saw a lot of action, proved their value and jumped ahead of former top prospect Eduardo Nunez. Last night, making his major league debut (wearing #45), Wheeler belted a homer for his first hit as a Yankee. I've got not idea of how Wheeler will do long term -- remember that at the end of April, a then-sizzling Solarte looked like he was about to become the Yanks' regular third baseman -- but it's nice to reach back to the Grapefruit League and the first time I saw him as a Yankee.

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