Jason MacDonald Wheeler...2008 graduate of Torrance (CA) High School, playing baseball and basketball...named All-Area, All-League and All-CIF as senior in baseball...named Torrance High School Athlete of the Year as senior...named Most Outstanding Player in the Pioneer League as senior in basketball...attended Loyola Marymount University from 2009-11, going 7-8, 5.05 ERA (148.0 IP, 83 ER) with 52 walks and 96 strikeouts in 43 games (17 starts)...older brother Ryan, who was a teammate at LMU in 2009, played 2014 in Colorado and Los Angeles-AL's organizations.
2014
Started season at Single-A Ft. Myers...Pitched first professional complete game shutout April 28 vs. Bradenton, allowing two hits with no walks and three strikeouts, earning the win...Tied minor league career-high with 10 strikeouts June 16 vs. Bradenton (6.0 IP)...Promoted to Double-A New Britain June 19...Earned win in first Double-A start June 21 vs. Reading, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings pitched with one walk and seven strikeouts...Pitched 6.0-plus innings in 10 of 12 starts for Rock Cats...Promoted to Triple-A Rochester July 25, made one start that same day vs. Indianapolis, allowing two runs in five hits on 5.0 innings pitched and did not factor into the decision; transferred back to New Britain July 29...Went 3-1, 1.44 ERA (31.1 IP, 5 ER) with five walks and 30 strikeouts in five August starts for Rock Cats...Combined to go 11-9, 2.67 ERA (158.1 IP, 47 ER) with 37 walks and 115 strikeouts in 26 starts between all three levels combined...Led Twins minor leaguers in innings pitched (158.1) and was fourth in entire organization behind Phil Hughes (209.2), Kyle Gibson (179.1) and Ricky Nolasco (168.1)...Added to Twins 40-man roster November 20.
2013
Spent entire season with Single-A Ft. Myers and began season with five-game winning streak April 5-May 18...went 3-0, 2.68 ERA (37.0 IP, 11 ER) in six May starts...had second career 10-strikeout game August 12 at Jupiter (7.0 IP)...led the Miracle in starts (27), innings pitched (143.1) and strikeouts (91)...tied for first in Florida State League in starts and fourth in innings pitched.
2012
Spent entire first professional season with Single-A Beloit...earned first win April 20 at South Bend, allowing two runs (1 earned) on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched...named Midwest League Player of the Week April 7, after going 2-0, 0.00 ERA (12.0 IP) with two walks and 11 strikeouts in two starts...went 7-1, 3.23 ERA (64.0 IP, 23 ER) in first 11 starts...named Twins minor league Player of the Week June 1, going 2-0, 1.08 ERA (13.0 IP, 7 ER) with 10 strikeouts in two starts...named Midwest League midseason All-Star...went 4-0, 2.03 ERA (31.0 IP, 7 ER) in five July starts...recorded first professional double-digit strikeout game, fanning 10 in 8.0 innings pitched, August 4 vs. Wisconsin...named left-handed pitcher on Twins MiLB.com organizational All-Star team.