Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Profile: Andre Wheeler
September 13, 2011 | Baseball
Wheeler was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Month during his freshman season
Sept. 13, 2011
Red Raider Profile: Andre Wheeler | 
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The Texas Tech baseball team's fall season is just around the corner, and throughout the remainder of the semester Texas Tech Athletics Communications will take an inside look into the Tech program with Red Raider Profiles on each player.
Andre Wheeler (OF/LHP - 6-0, 180 - L/L - So./1L - Austin, Texas/Anderson)
Andre Wheeler proved that current teammate and high school teammate David Paiz wasn't the only versatile player that the Red Raiders received from Anderson High School. As a freshman, Wheeler provided Texas Tech stability in the outfield, as he was the only Red Raider to start in all three outfield positions. In addition, Wheeler was used on the mound during his first collegiate season.
A lot of that raw talent and ability is what caught the eye of the Los Angeles Dodgers during Wheeler's senior year in high school. The Dodgers selected Wheeler in the 22nd round of the draft, making him the highest drafted prep entering a career at Texas Tech since 2007.
Wheeler played in 41 games - 32 starts - during his freshman season in 2011 with a .241 batting average with 16 runs, three doubles, 12 RBI and 17 walks. Wheeler also pitched 1.2 innings while making four appearances.
His breakthrough performance came at Baylor - in Tech's first Big 12 Conference series - where he went 6-for-10 against No. 14 Baylor while driving in the game-three tying run in the ninth inning and then gave Tech a cushion in extra-innings with a two-run single in the 10th. The victory led Tech to the series win.
For his efforts, Wheeler was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and also named to the College Baseball 360 National Primetime Performers List.
"He has a big arm, he is left handed and he is athletic," head coach Dan Spencer said. "With the situation we were in last year, where he was playing every day, it was hard to use him on the mound because he hadn't prepared enough. We are going to make sure he is ready to pitch in the spring."
Wheeler batted in eight of the nine spots in the Tech batting order, only missing out on batting cleanup. In addition, Wheeler tied for the team lead with three outfield assists.
