Zack Wheeler working his way back to top after TOS surgery: Latest on the ace’s rehab

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Zack Wheeler knows he won’t be ready for Opening Day, but his goal is be back not long after that.

Wheeler, 35, is in the latter stages of his rehab from venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The injury kept him out for the 2025 postseason. He has not pitched in a game since Aug. 15

He played catch during the team’s first official spring training workout for pitchers and catchers. He is cleared to throw on flat ground from 90 feet four times a week. The next step is to throw from 105 feet. The focus is on keeping his arm path consistent.

“One of my goals is to come back as soon as I can, but at the same time, just kind of checking off those boxes to make sure that arm is strong enough to move back further or get off the mound or stuff like that,” Wheeler told reporters in Clearwater. “I’m missing Opening Day, so there’s no need to kind of rush back and try to come back a week after that type of thing. You want to be back, but you also don’t want to rush it at the same time.”

It’s a new challenge for Wheeler, who has exceeded all expectations since signing his initial five-year contract with the Phillies in December 2019. Once seen as a talented but oft-injured pitcher in the beginning of his career with the New York Mets, Wheeler has transformed into an ace during his time with the Phillies. He has a 2.91 ERA in 979 innings with a pair of top two finishes in the Cy Young race over the last six years. He has delivered in the postseason. He has led a pitching staff that has been widely regarded as one of the best in baseball since his arrival.

He’s now tasked with getting back to the top after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his right throwing shoulder. Wheeler is content with the progress he has made so far, but how his stuff will play on the mound post-surgery is still an unknown.

“We’ll worry about that when it comes,” Wheeler said. “You just have that mindset that you’ll be the same person as you were before you got injured. Any athlete is going to have that.”

Wheeler is familiar with lengthy rehabs. Tommy John surgery cost him two full seasons in 2015 and 2016. The surgery is common among major league pitchers and most are able to return to previous performance levels. Thoracic outlet syndrome is less common and comes with more unknowns. Other pitchers who have battled TOS around the league have reached out, but Wheeler didn’t want to put too much stock into what others have experienced.

“I feel like everybody goes through different injuries differently,” Wheeler said. “So I didn’t want to be like ‘Oh this guy felt this at a certain time,’ and that’s in my head when I’m coming up to that marker or something like that.”

The surgery Wheeler underwent in September required the removal of his first rib. It’s apparently hanging in his closet at home like a decoration. His doctor handed it to him in a bag.

“That was pretty gross,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler has been open about his plans for the rest of career. When his current three-year, $126 million extension is up at the end of 2027, he plans to retire. The lost time hasn’t led to a change of heart for Wheeler. At least for now.

“Just kind of see how it goes over the next couple of years, and just go from there,” Wheeler said. “It really hasn’t been a thought in my head like this surgery would make me stop or anything. Obviously, I have a contract to fulfill. I want to be here and I want to pitch. I love competing, especially with this group of guys in this city. We’ve been chasing after a World Series over the past four or five years, and we all want to get one. It’s my goal to get back and try to help us get one.”