The Miami Marlins have purchased the contract of Dalton Wheat of the Kansas City T-Bones, the T-Bones announced today.
Wheat is a 6-foot-2 and 185-pound outfielder from Augusta, Kan.
He joined the T-Bones on June 6 and went on to hit a team-best .335 in 67 games with 69 hits, 27 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
Wheat, who started his collegiate career at Butler Community College before finishing at Emporia State University in May, was second for Kansas City with nine stolen bases and tied for second with three triples.
Late last week,”Baseball America” selected Wheat as the No. 1 player on its independent leagues prospect list.
“We’re really happy for Dalton,” said T-Bones vice-president and general manager Chris Browne. “He starred at a small college, got his chance to play in pro ball with us this summer and made the most of it, earning a spot in the starting lineup as a rookie outfielder. This is a great success story for him, independent baseball and the T-Bones. Credit also goes to our baseball coaches and staff.”
Although he established himself quickly as a solid player for Kansas City, batting .400 with 12 hits in his first 11 games, Wheat became recognizable by something he wears at the plate. Instead of traditional batting gloves, Wheat wears traditional work gloves, which he jokes are available at any home improvement center or hardware store for about $10 and last an entire season.
“I look forward to seeing Dalton wearing his trademark ‘work gloves’ in the batter’s box for the Marlins one day,” Browne said. “We couldn’t be happier.”
Wheat is the 25th T-Bones player whose contract has been sold to a major-league organization. In January, the Toronto Blue Jays purchased pitcher Bobby Doran’s contract.
