Leading the National League this year, Wheeler's 0.955 WHIP was the lowest by a Phillies starting pitcher (minimum 150 innings) since Hall of Famer Grover Alexander's 0.84 in 1915.
Although Alexander's record was achieved over nearly twice the innings (376.1 vs. 200), it occurred during the Deadball Era and before integration, making Wheeler's achievement even more impressive.
Wheeler's historic WHIP was a result of his NL-leading hit rate (6.3 H/9).
His unhittable pitches, combined with his excellent command (2.3 BB/9), made it extremely difficult for opponents to reach base against him.
The two-time All-Star's WHIP was even better towards the end of the season.
In his final 12 starts (including his playoff appearance), he posted a 0.83 WHIP from Aug. 1 onward, ending the year on a high note.
Hopefully, Wheeler can continue this momentum into next season, as Philadelphia is relying on him to lead their rotation again in 2025.
The 2024 season was yet another close call for the Philadelphia Phillies.
After clinching the NL East and securing the second-best record in baseball, trailing only the World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies were knocked out of the postseason for the third consecutive year. They secured just one playoff win before being eliminated in the NLDS, 3-1, by their rivals, the New York Mets.
Although many players contributed to Philadelphia's disappointing early exit, Zack Wheeler was not among them.
The veteran ace delivered an outstanding performance in his sole postseason start, pitching seven innings of one-hit ball in Game 1.
Regrettably, his teammates couldn't capitalize on his effort, losing 6-2. Wheeler would have taken the mound again in Game 5 if the Phillies had extended the series, but he never got the opportunity.
The 34-year-old right-hander faced another setback in the offseason, finishing runner-up to Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale in the NL Cy Young voting.
Sale, who achieved the NL pitching Triple Crown, dominated the voting, securing 26 first-place votes compared to Wheeler's four.
Nevertheless, the disappointing conclusion to Wheeler's campaign doesn't overshadow the remarkable and historic season he had.
In fact, he recorded the lowest WHIP by a Philadelphia starting pitcher in over a century.
Oct 5, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws a pitch against the New York Mets.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Phillies Zack Wheeler makes history
November 28, 2024
Wheeler was the Cy Young runner up but also did something not seen since the early days of baseball.
Philly Sports Jawn
Jawn Kruk
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