Mets 2017 Season Preview: Which player is most likely to disappoint?

Michelle Ioannou, Editor 

I’m sorry, but I have to do this… Zack Wheeler.

I’m choosing Wheeler for a couple of different reasons. First, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t make it back on the field. This may be because I’m still a bit scarred about last season and how we kept hearing about how we’d see him and then we didn’t at all, I don’t know.

Do I think he’ll make it back in Queens in some capacity? Yes, I do. But again, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t.

Now this isn’t the only reason I chose him as the player most likely to disappoint. I think there’s a lot of talk around him, and a lot of expectations set for him. He is a great pitcher, this is no secret. But, he has been out of the majors for about two years. That’s a long time, and it was one filled with setbacks. If he does make it back, he’ll most likely be rusty.

Plus, Wheeler even felt tenderness in his elbow while throwing a bullpen session just this past February! Obviously not a good sign, and obviously not something we want to hear.

If he does make it back to the team, we already know he’s probably starting out in the bullpen. This in itself is disappointing to some fans, and you may even say it’s disappointing to Wheeler himself as we know he doesn’t want this.

I just don’t want to set expectations for Wheeler. But unfortunately, for many, the expectation is that he makes it back to being the fifth starter, and he makes it back to being as dominant as he once was.

2016 was a disappointing season for Wheeler due to all the setbacks. Unfortunately, I think 2017 may be as well.