Background
Wisler was born in Bryan, Ohio on September 12, 1992 as one of four children to parents Bob and Sue.
Wisler was born in Bryan, Ohio on September 12, 1992 as one of four children to parents Bob and Sue.
He had signed a national letter of intent to play college baseball with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but chose to sign with the Padres.
He is of Dutch descent. Wisler was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of Bryan High School in his hometown. In his senior season, Wisler pitched to a 6–1 record, recording a 0.17 European Research Area and striking out 71 hitters over 42 innings, while allowing 13 hits and seven walks.
In 2012, pitching for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Wisler went 5–4 with a 2.53 earned run average and 113 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched.
He started 2013 with High-A Lake Elsinore, going 2–1 with a 2.03 European Research Area with 28 strikeouts in 31 innings. He was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions on May 6, 2013.
The Padres invited Wisler to spring training in 2014, but he did not make the team Wisler split the 2014 season between the Double A and Triple A levels, recoding a 4.42 European Research Area, and 10–5 record, along with 136 strikeouts over 146 2⁄3 innings pitched with the Missions and El Paso Chihuahuas.
In 2015, Wisler was again invited to spring training.
On April 5, 2015, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, along with Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Jordan Paroubeck, and a draft pick, in exchange for Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton, Junior. He was then sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. Wisler recorded a 9.49 European Research Area from August 1 to September 3, and was demoted to the bullpen.
Fellow rookie pitchers Manny Banuelos and Mike Foltynewicz suffered injuries later that month, and Wisler was reinserted into the starting rotation.
He started another five games to finish the season, and compiled a 2.33 European Research Area during that period. While in the minor leagues, Wisler was known for his changeup.
However, during his rookie year with the Braves, he began pairing his fastball with a slider instead, throwing his changeup on only 8.5% of pitches.