Zelous Wheeler – Former Oriole Makes Great Yankees Debut

Jul 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Zelous Wheeler (45) celebrates with second baseman Brendan Ryan (17) after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Orioles MASN writer Roch Kubatko used to love to write about minor leaguer Zelous Wheeler. It was a sort of favorite name for him that he could not avoid having some fun with every time he wrote something about him.

Wheeler had an auspicious beginning for the New York Yankees in his debut last night. He joined the rare category of MLB players who have hit a home run in their first career at-bat.

The Alabama native and third-baseman was a 19^th-round selection of the Brewers in 2007. The Orioles claimed him in the spring of 2012 and he played two years in the O’s system at Bowie and Norfolk where he hit .269 and .275.

He signed in the offseason with the Yankees, and for their AAA team this year, he was hitting .299 at Scranton / Wilkes-Barre.

Here is a guy who has paid his dues for years and years – playing winter leagues to make a dream come true. On July 3, 2014 … it happened. It’s a great story.