LAS VEGAS — Overpowering fastball? Check.
Dominant breaking stuff? Check.
Complete lack of run support? Yup.
Zack Wheeler is ready to become a Met.
The right-hander, making his final minor league start last night for Triple-A Las Vegas, showed why the Mets are enthralled by his potential as he waits to make his MLB debut in Atlanta Tuesday.
Wheeler surrendered just one hit — a fifth inning homer to Carlos Peguero — walked two and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings, leaving after 85 pitches in an 11-0 loss to Tacoma Thursday night at Cashman Field.
“I feel like I’m ready, but I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to do,” said Wheeler, who hasn’t yet been told by the Mets that he’s actually getting called up.
He should get official word soon enough.
“He looks good to go,” said one AL scout who watched Wheeler for the first time. “His slider has great late movement and his curve is solid. He makes [throwing] 97 look easy. He’s even better than I’d heard.”
“Zack has put in his time,” Las Vegas manager Wally Backman said before the game. “It’s time for us to take a look at him, I think, in the big leagues.”
So for the second time in as many years, Backman is set to see a hard-throwing right-hander try to inject life into an otherwise lost Mets’ season.
“There was hype on [Matt] Harvey, just like there was on [Wheeler],” Backman said. “They’re two different individuals, but both have got great stuff. Their stuff definitely plays.”
Harvey didn’t pitch for the Mets until July 26 last season and struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings in an electric debut against the Diamondbacks.
Last night, Wheeler topped out at 98 mph and retired the first 10 hitters he faced until Brad Miller walked on a full count and was erased trying to steal second.
Wheeler, 23, finally surrendered a hit with one out in the fifth, when Peguero hit a homer to right to give Tacoma a 1-0 lead. It was the only ball hit hard off Wheeler.
Tacoma’s lineup that included former major leaguers such as Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Robert Andino had little chance against Wheeler.
“I can see him fitting into the back end of their rotation right now,” the scout said. “And as his changeup improves, he could be a top of the line guy.”
Backman said he is confident that like with Harvey after his promotion from Buffalo, the added pressure of the majors only will make Wheeler better.
“We’ve seen what it did to Harvey,” said Backman, pointing out that Wheeler is more laid back than Harvey, who has already become the Mets’ ace. “They’re two different guys, but Zack’s going to handle it fine, I think.”
Among the differences between the two is their attitude about getting out of the minors.
“Harvey was the guy that was in the office every day, [saying] ‘When am I going? When am I going?’” Backman said. “[Wheeler] has come in, but not every day.”
Nevertheless, the audition appears to be over.
“He knows what’s expected of him, I think, when he goes to New York,” Backman said. “I know I’ve talked to him about the way the media is in New York. He’s ready for everything.”


