Two weeks ago in Atlanta, the scoreboard flashed “99” after a pitch thrown by Zack Wheeler for the first time since 2014.



The righty blew it high past Freddie Freeman to get him down swinging in the bottom of the first, then turned around and glanced at the screen to get confirmation for what he felt when it came out of his hand.



“Sometimes I try to throw it that hard, but then I look and it only comes out like 96,” Wheeler said.



This year, only 13 true starting pitchers (excluding one Rays reliever) have thrown even one fastball at 99 MPH or higher. Wheeler, who has lost two-and-a-half seasons of his short career to elbow and arm injuries, is an unlikely inclusion in that club. He’s maintained above-average velocity on his fastball despite the injuries and setbacks, but even Wheeler wasn’t sure he’d see himself hit that peak again.



Before that June 12th game in Atlanta, Wheeler’s average velocity on...