"Zack Wheeler is on a mountain by himself" - Brewers icon claims Phillies ace is the "perfect pitcher" in MLB

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler delivered another dominant campaign this year, although he was unlucky to miss out on the Cy Young Award once again. Ex-Milwaukee Brewers reliever Dan Plesac said that Wheeler has the right combination of stuff and durability to make him the "perfect pitcher" for the MLB among the current crop.

Wheeler earned the second All-Star selection of his career this year before ending the regular season with a 16-7 record and a 2.57 ERA. He also recorded 224 strikeouts in 200 innings and led the National League with a 0.955 WHIP. However, he finished well behind Atlanta Braves southpaw Chris Sale as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award.

Former three-time All-Star Dan Plesac waxed lyrical about Zack Wheeler during the MLB Tonight show on Thursday.

"The best blend... the perfect pitcher in Major League Baseball, there's one guy, and he's on a mountain by himself: Zack Wheeler," he said.

"He has everything that you want. He is explosive. He has gas," he added. "He rarely misses the glove."

Wheeler ended up on the losing side in his only postseason start this year, despite allowing only one hit through seven shutout innings against the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

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"Zack Wheeler never looks like he's max-effort": Dan Plesac

Wheeler posted 200 innings with 224 strikeouts this year (Image Source: Imagn)

Zack Wheeler furthered his reputation as one of the most dominant starting pitchers of his generation, having posted more than 190 innings along with 200 strikeouts in three of the past four seasons. He's only second to his Philadelphia Phillies teammate Aaron Nola for the most innings pitched since the start of the 2018 campaign.

Dan Plesac outlined why he considers the Phillies ace to be the best pitcher in the game right now.

"All of the really good pitchers, they're right around the glove. Nobody in the game, right now, has the stuff that Zack Wheeler does, but [also] has the pitchability to go along with the stuff," Plesac said.

"He has a great fastball. He can sink it. He has a sweeper. He has a curveball. He has a straight changeup. And he never looks like he's max-effort, out of control," he added.

Wheeler was selected as the sixth overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants before he was traded to the New York Mets the next year. He joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent on a five-year, $118 million contract at the end of the 2019 campaign.

The Phillies superstar agreed a three-year, $126 million extension before the start of the 2024 season.