Zack Wheeler is the #6 prospect in MLB? Not yet, but he will be.

It's still the first week of the Major League Baseball season but Bullpen Banter takes a humorous look at who will be the top ten prospects in the MLB heading into 2013. Checking in at #6 on the list is none other than Mets RHP Zack Wheeler:

"6 - Zack Wheeler - Right Handed Starter, Mets

After the Mets unshackled Wheeler in 2011 his confidence skyrocketed and his control problems dissipated. The Georgian has early trouble in Binghamton's cool air, but slays the Eastern League after May 15. His strikeout rate, which has never dropped below 10 SO/9 in his young career, reaches a Strasburgian 12.5 SO/9. Still, scouts are concerned that his overpowering arsenal is masking command issues. He spends the full year at Binghamton and is caught at a Phi Lambda Phi slip-and-slide mixer. His actions cause the New York Media to question the 22-year-old's makeup, dedication and to wonder aoud [sic] why he can't be more like Tim Tebow."

All joking and superfluous Tim Tebow references aside, the fact that they consider Wheeler to someday be a top ten prospect in all of the Major League Baseball says something about the kid's potential. In case you're wondering, here are the prospects ranked #6 overall by Bullpen Banter and its individual writers, going back to 2010:

2010 - LHP Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles
2011 - RHP Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays
2011 (JD Sussman) - 1B Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
2011 (Jeff Reese) - OF Wil Myers, Kansas City Royals
2011 (Al Skorupa) - LHP Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
2011 (Steve Fiorindo) - RHP Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays
2012 - 3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
2012 (JD Sussman) - C/DH Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners
2012 (Jeff Reese) - RHP Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals
2012 (Al Skorupa) - RHP Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners

Walker and Rendon are still minor leaguers and check in at #1 and #5, respectively, on the projected 2013 list. Hellickson won American League Rookie of the Year in 2011, while Hosmer came in 3rd in the AL RoY voting. Walker and Montero are expected to produce this season so the jury is still out on them.

Of the nine players listed above, Chapman has been an enigma as no one seems to be able to harness his raw talent, Matusz is entering Mike Pelfrey territory in terms of disappointingly maddening consistency, and Myers' stock has dropped since 2011.

So Wheeler checking in at #6 seems to have a better than 50% chance of becoming a successful major leaguer (and perhaps a 40% chance of becoming a bust).