TAMPA — Get ready for a major Zack Attack this spring.
“I’m going into spring training trying to win that Opening Day job,’’ Zack Wheeler told The Post Tuesday by phone as he made his way from Georgia to the Mets spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. “That is my mind-set going in, no doubt about it.
“I feel really good right now and I am really confident going into camp.’’
That is music to Terry Collins’ ears. On Monday, the Mets manager told The Post that Wheeler, after just 17 major league starts, is strongly in the running for Opening Day starter with Matt Harvey recovering from Tommy John surgery.
It all depends on the kind of spring Wheeler, 23, puts up, but Collins would not hesitate to make Wheeler his Opening Day starter.
Earlier Tuesday, David Wright told The Post he was so excited about Wheeler’s future that one of his objectives this spring was to make sure Wheeler — and the Mets as a team — show a little more swagger, because they are loaded with young pitching talent.
“We need Zack Wheeler to build on what he established last year,’’ Wright said. “He’s got No. 1 stuff. He’s a humble player, but you want him to get that tenacity that he knows he’s got No. 1 stuff and almost get a little swagger to him. He is coming into spring training with that little bit of edge, ‘Hey, I belong here. I got the stuff.’ That’s the kind of maturation we need from our young pitchers to go out there and want to take that next step.’’
Wheeler, who finished 7-5 with a 3.42 ERA last season, said he is ready to take that step.
“We have a good starting rotation now, but with Matt being gone, we are all going to have to step up and do a little bit better,’’ Wheeler said. “I’m kind of a laid-back guy. That is who I am. But there is no doubt that I love to do my job and I will always try to give our team the best chance to win.
“The biggest thing I learned last year is what it takes to be successful at the big league level. Not having to do too much, just relying on all your stuff, mentally and physically. What I want to do is control my body. Sometimes last year on like a 1-2 count, I wasn’t trying too hard, but my body would just take over. Now in those situations, just think about how you are going to attack it.’’
As for Wright, he got married at the end of the December.
“I’m in a good place,’’ Wright said of his mind-set coming into camp. Like Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Wright is already in camp, getting work done. “I’m happy. I’m very lucky that in both my professional life and in my personal life I am where I want to be.’’
Collins said he is going to cut back Wright’s spring training workload.
“I’m on board with that 100 percent,’’ Wright said. “I had to learn the hard way with these nagging spring training injuries the last few years. I want to stay off the back fields [doing rehab].
“I really liked what we have done so far. We got one of the guys who was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last few years in Bartolo Colon. Curtis Granderson has a couple 40-home-run seasons under his belt and the professionalism he brings to the clubhouse is huge. If we can get Chris Young playing like Chris Young, that would be a tremendous deal for us.
“Did we grab the headlines and spend the kind of money the Yankees did? Of course not, but every addition we have made has made this team better. We just need our young pitchers to continue to develop.’’
If Zack Wheeler can grab that No. 1 spot, the Mets will be off and running with those young, power arms attacking and leading the way.