Angels’ John Wimmer Reaps Benefits Of Altered Approach
John Wimmer had to be convinced by his summer coach to play in the 2022 Perfect Game WWBA World Championship—a decision that changed his plans for life after high school.
After going 9-for-13 with four doubles over the week in Jupiter, Fla., Wimmer was sitting in construction class at Rock Hill (S.C.) High the following Monday when his phone buzzed with text messages from scouts.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” Wimmer said. “I didn’t ever think I was going to be playing professional baseball. My plan was to go to The Citadel for four years, play baseball and get a nice job after.”
The Angels drafted the athletic and projectable shortstop in the 11th round in 2023 and signed him for $397,500.
Wimmer struggled over his first calendar year in pro ball, hitting .145 with a 40.7% rate over his first 40 games across two stints in the Arizona Complex League in 2023 and 2024.
Changing his approach during the 2024 season, he began trying to drive pitches hard the opposite way instead of trying to pull fastballs, which helped him stop chasing breaking balls away.
Over his final 17 games in the ACL last year, he batted .319/.492/.489.
Wimmer heads into his first full season at Low-A Inland Empire with just 58 games to his name.
“The game, the season, the nine innings. That will begin to say what kind of player he turns out to be and how he can mentally handle the grind of a full season,” Inland Empire manager Dave Stapleton said.
“Nine innings is the best coach he is going to have.”
Over his first month in Low-A, Wimmer hit .246 with a .712 OPS, and though his 31% strikeout rate still raises concerns about swing-and-miss and his hit tool, it is a new career-low marker.
“I want to hit .350 with 15 home runs,” Wimmer said. “Main thing this year is cutting down strikeouts, because that really held me back last year.”
