Zack Wheeler is going to hit the mound running Tuesday night in Atlanta at Turner Field, when he makes his major league debut against the Braves. Terry Collins and the Mets are going to make sure of that.
Wheeler will pitch the second game of the Super Tuesday split doubleheader, after Matt Harvey will pitch in the opener.
“You’re looking at The Future,” the Mets manager said on a night Shaun Marcum (0-8) and the Mets were slugged 6-3 by the lowly Cubs at Citi Field. “That’s why you’ve got to make sure it is handled correctly and that [Wheeler] gets himself prepared correctly, because we plan on him being here a long time.
“I can’t wait to see the two of them pitch on the same day. It’s going to be a lot of fun and they’re going to be lined up in the rotation with each other from that start on. I’m hoping this kid watches Matt’s games and he learns from it.’’
Wheeler can’t wait, either. He tweeted last night of his impending call-up: “It’s an honor to be called up by the Mets. Big thanks to my family and friends. And the great fans of N.Y. It’s going to be very exciting for many years to come.’’
Braves icon Chipper Jones then tweeted to Wheeler: “Congrats young fella! Proud of you. Stop sucking up to the fans! Lol. Good luck buddy!’’
Wheeler has big pitching dreams. So do the Mets.
“With Harvey and Wheeler we are talking a lot of years, not just one big flash in the pan,’’ Collins said. “[In games] when Matt comes out after 95 pitches and he’s ticked off, be ticked off all you want, but there are reasons. At the end of the year, when he hits 210 or 215 innings, whatever it might be, the next spring you come back and you’re still healthy.’’
Ownership and the front office will be there with COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson planning on going to Atlanta to celebrate Debut Day.
Collins said he’s going to have John Buck catch Harvey because of the success they have had, and pair Anthony Recker with Wheeler.
“This guy is coming with such a buildup,’’ Collins said of Wheeler. “We’re going to try to keep him grounded. He’s got a little bit different personality than Matt’s, so I think it might be somewhat easier to do.
“He’s a real quiet kid and I don’t want him to be intimidated by all the attention. There’s a way to deal with it — you don’t have to have a microphone in your face every 10 minutes.’’
Collins is going to have a “little conference’’ with Wheeler on Monday after he comes in from Triple-A Las Vegas. Wheeler is making his Mets’ debut on the road — but at home. He lives about 30 miles outside Atlanta.
Collins will offer this advice: “Trust your stuff. You don’t have to do more. What got you here is going to keep you here. Now you may have to refine a few things, but it doesn’t have to be better.’’
Collins chose to go with Harvey in the opener because Harvey is “the veteran,’’ but the Mets also took into account Wheeler is coming west to east.
“He’s flying in, and the change in time zones will allow him to sit in the clubhouse for the first game, kind of take it all in, be around it for a while,’’ Collins explained.
“You can pitch him in a bone yard. You’re not going to take the pressure off this guy. Doesn’t matter if it’s noon or 1 or 7. It’s a big league game, his first major league start. There’s going to be a lot of heat on him. He’s going to put it on himself. I just thought, put him where he’s most comfortable — that would be to pitch in the second game.’’
The Future is here. Finally.