Cobb Native Zack Wheeler Wins Debut Against Braves

Zack Wheeler, a Georgia native born and raised in Smyrna, made his major league debut Tuesday back home at Turner Field as New York Mets' pitcher playing against the Atlanta Braves.

Wheeler pitched six shutout innings and earned the win as Mets swept the Braves with 6-1 victory in a day-night doubleheader. The top pitching prospect for the Mets allowed "four hits and five walks, and threw 55 strikes in 102 pitches," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Wheeler is ranked as the No. 8 prospect in baseball by MLB.com, and made his much-anticipated major-league debut in front of a large contingent of family and friends here in Atlanta.

Wheeler was born and raised in Smyrna, and later moved to Dallas where he attended East Paulding High School. The AJC reported that Chipper Jones, Wheeler's favorite Braves player growing up, watched the Mets pitcher's performance on hand at Turner Field Tuesday.

Wheeler told The AJC that he "couldn’t have imagined a better situation than pitching in Atlanta for his first start."