Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, the team announced Saturday. The 35-year-old right-hander is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.
Wheeler had surgery this week to remove a blood clot in his throwing shoulder. The condition is a rare compression disorder that causes blood clots, and a corrective surgery has been recommended. The procedure, which typically involves removing a rib to relieve pressure on the vein, could allow him to return by Opening Day 2026.
“It’s disappointing, but everybody knows it’s out of our control,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We’re happy he’s going to be healthy, because it’s a very serious thing that he went through.”
The loss of Wheeler is a significant blow to the Phillies’ championship aspirations. Since signing with the team before the 2020 season, he has been one of baseball’s most effective pitchers, known for his durability, pinpoint command, and high strikeout totals. This season, Wheeler was leading the major leagues with 195 strikeouts in 149⅔ innings while posting a 2.71 ERA.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It’s never good to lose a Zack Wheeler, your No. 1 pitcher.” However, he expressed confidence in the team’s depth. “We have a good ballclub, and we’ll be looking for other people to step up and pick up the slack for us.”
The Phillies’ remaining starting rotation includes right-handers Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker, alongside left-handers Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jesús Luzardo. Top prospect Andrew Painter is also a potential option to bolster a pitching staff that recently added closer Jhoan Duran and setup man David Robertson.
At 75-54, Philadelphia holds a six-game lead in the National League East and is currently in position for the No. 2 seed in the NL playoffs.
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