If he wasn’t going to hit home runs, he could at least help in warm-ups. And if he wasn’t going to turn double-plays, he could at least be the social glue of the team, making time to befriend everyone.

“I love Doggie, good buddy of mine,” junior Josh Klimkiewicz says, using Wheeler’s squad-given nickname. “He brings a smile to everyone’s face. He’s a smart guy, but you wouldn’t know that from talking to him.”

Which means what, exactly?

“He doesn’t give off the Applied Math character,” Klimkiewicz continues.

Which means what, exactly?

“Takes care of his work, and he plays hard, too,” Mann says.

Or just listen to Steffan Wilson, the rookie phenom, wax poetic about Wheeler’s sense of humor.

“Doggie?” asks Wilson. “I declared him my honorary older brother.”

Wheeler’s role is somewhat expanded this season, already his most successful to date. Still, though, Wheeler is ready for the Army—ready for the commitment, ready to leave behind Minnetonka and Cambridge, and ready to part with his role as a player.

“I’ve gotten everything I want to get out of baseball,” he says. “I never thought I’d come to Harvard, and part of the reason I’m here is because I can play baseball. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of a game.”

He is completely satisfied with his career, he states firmly. Completely satisfied.

Until conversation turns back to the army.

“Even the army has a baseball team,” he interjects, “and if I’m good enough, I could maybe play with them.”

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.