Red Raider Profile: Andre Wheeler
November 03, 2010 | Baseball
Nov. 3, 2010
Red Raider Profile - Andre Wheeler
LUBBOCK, Texas - Although the Texas Tech baseball team has wrapped up its fall season, Texas Tech Athletics Communications will continue taking an inside look into the Tech program with Red Raider Profiles on each player.
Andre Wheeler (OF/LHP - 6-0, 175 - L/L -Fr./HS - Austin, Texas/Anderson)
Andre Wheeler enters the Texas Tech program after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 22nd round (682 overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Wheeler is the highest drafted prep player (out of high school) to join the Red Raiders since former standout pitcher Chad Bettis was drafted by the Houston Astros in the eighth round (261 overall) during the 2007 MLB Draft.
Wheeler was the sixth outfielder selected in the draft by the Dodgers.
Wheeler was a highly touted high school talent out of Anderson High School in Austin, where he was teammates with current freshman David Paiz.
Wheeler was a two-time all-district pick, named newcomer of the year in 2008, earned All-Centex First Team honors in 2010 and was an area all-star following his senior campaign. In addition, Wheeler was a second team all-state selection in 2010.
"Andre is a two-way player who will be very valuable to us," head coach Dan Spencer said. "He is learning to hit at this level and is going to be a good hitter. He is also a good defender in the outfield. He can also pitch. Where we are as a team, Andre is closer to being able to help us on the mound. Eventually, we are going to have to figure out what we are going to do with him because he will be playing every day."
Wheeler shined on the mound in two appearances during the Red & Black Fall Series where he didn't allow an earned run in 2.2 innings with one strikeout. Wheeler collected four base hits at the plate with two runs scored, two RBI and three walks during the annual five-game series to conclude the fall season.
