Rocket Wheeler

Ralph "Rocket" Wheeler is a former minor league infielder and the current minor league manager for the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League. Wheeler attended the University of Houston where he obtained his nickname "Rocket" for his speed and hustle.

Wheeler was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. He played in the Blue Jays farm system until 1982, including stints with the Florence Blue Jays and the Kinston Eagles. He was very well liked in Kinston, and was honored by the Kinston Indians by being inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 despite recently being named manager for their most heated rival, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

He stayed with the Blue Jays system when he began his managerial career in 1985. He managed the Medicine Hat Blue Jays, the GCL Blue Jays, the St. Catharines Stompers, the Dunedin Blue Jays, and the Tennessee Smokies. After the 2002 season, Wheeler was let go by the Toronto front office, and he moved over to the Atlanta Braves farm system managing the Rome Braves (2003-05) and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2006-present).

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rocket_Wheeler BR bullpen page.]
* [http://www.morningnewsonline.com/midatlantic/scp/sports.apx.-content-articles-BTW-2006-11-01-0008.html Rehire for 2007 season.]
* [http://www.canoe.ca/Slam020915/col_elliott-sun.html Article about being let go by Toronto.]
* [http://www.kinston.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=33302&Section=Local%20Sports Kinston Hall of Fame induction.]