EDMONTON, Alberta - Development technology proved to be the selling point that has made Chas Wheatley an Iowa commit.

“I narrowed my choices down to USC, the University of San Francisco and Iowa,” reflected the Strathcona High School senior. “It started with phone calls and then I got into a powerpoint presentation. What stood out was pitch development. I had nerve issues with my elbow and, along with covid, I missed a lot of developmental time ... almost two years. Iowa had the best of the three schools for development. The main reason I chose Iowa was pitch development and a good relationship with the pitching coach Robin Lund. He’s an Alberta guy.”

The ability to develop was vital according to the fourth-ranked 2021 right-handed pitcher in Alberta.

“The other schools were not as technology-based as Iowa,” Wheatley reasoned. “I love that. I felt that’s the biggest thing that could help my development. The others are more old-school, which is fine, but I’m more about technology-based.”

Missing time on the mound played a part in Wheatley becoming the pitcher he is today.

“Taylor Burns is my coach here and also with my club team,” Wheatley related. “He came up with a rehab program for me. I was light at 6-6 and 170, now I’m 210.”

However Wheatley, who is now 6-7, developed more physical problems.

“I had shoulder issues rehabbing my elbow so I learned you have to be diligent with elbow and shoulder recovery,” Wheatley noted. “I’m 100 percent now. I’ve been throwing for 8-10 months. If not for covid, I would have been throwing longer than that.”

The just-turned 19-year-old has made a discovery in his time back throwing.

“Before I was mainly fastballs, but I realized I needed to work on my change and slider to perfect three pitches,” the ninth-rated senior in Alberta explained. “For college, I think I can make it with mastering three.”

The idea of even playing baseball at the next level only came about recently.

“It only happened my grade-10 year,” Wheatley said. “I was mainly a volleyball player before I started to go to the U.S. I always liked baseball more, but there weren’t opportunities in Canada. When I started going to the U.S. (with the Edmonton Prospects), I realized I was wrong.”

Participation in the Alberta Summer Open at the end of July proved beneficial in showing the possibilities Wheatley had on the mound.

“Wheatley has a body that projects very well off the mound,” PBR Alberta scout Rhett Feser said in December in taking a look at five seniors that had made recent impressions to get on the radar of college coaches. “His frame shows a lot of room for added mass making his fastball already topping at 88 mph even more impressive. The off-speed pitches continue to improve and show flashes. He has quickly become one of the most exciting players in this class.”

When Iowa came into the picture, it became a reality.

“They saw my arm slot and thought I had a lot of potential,” Wheatley pointed out. “I missed two years, so they saw I didn’t get a lot of time to work with my arm-side run and mechanics.”

But choosing a college more than a day away by car and a dozen hours through the air brought some uncertainties.

“I’ve never been to Iowa, so at first it was nerve-racking,” Wheatley admitted about the thought of committing to the Big 10 school in the midwest. “But in talking to people I found it a lot like Alberta in the winter and summer, so it’s not going to be a culture shock.

“I always knew if I was going to play baseball it would be far from home. I’ve prepared myself and I’m great with it. My mom’s job allows her to travel so they said they’ll come as much as they can to watch.”

Plans are to major in computer science according to Wheatley, an 89 percent student who believes he can be a valuable asset to the Iowa program.

“With my movement on the fastball and size and potential, I may start off as a reliever as a freshman and sophomore, then move to one of their top starters,” Wheatley said.

Whatever role he ends up, Wheatley is ecstatic to fulfill a long-time goal.

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do my whole life,” Wheatley concluded. “To go to the Big 10 and a school like Iowa is a dream come true.”