The Philadelphia Phillies are inching closer to getting ace Zack Wheeler back in the rotation. The right-hander has already logged a few rehab outings and is projected to return sometime in April.
MLB.com’s Paul Casella reported:
“Wheeler is expected to make another rehab start for Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. In the meantime, Thomson said he’ll head back to Citizens Bank Park to throw a bullpen session on either Sunday or Monday. Depending on how he looks, he could rejoin the Phillies after Wednesday’s start or the team may opt for an additional rehab appearance.”
Wheeler hasn’t pitched since last season, when a blood clot was discovered, shutting him down and shifting the focus to preparing for 2026. As MLB.com’s Byron Kerr noted,
“Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler was placed on the injured list with a right upper extremity blood clot,” according to team president of baseball operations David Dombrowski.
Now that Wheeler is nearing his return, the biggest question mark is his velocity. While it should improve as he builds up innings, the lack of his usual heat has raised real concerns.
TBOH’s Stephen Parello wrote:
“Expected back in April, Wheeler’s activation would give Philadelphia options including possibly shifting to a temporary six-man rotation. That could help keep him healthy and ease demands on the rest of the staff heading into a playoff push. But as Wheeler continues rehabbing in Lehigh Valley, there are still reasons to be uneasy. His velocity hasn’t bounced back yet, and the gap between his peak numbers and his current readings is hard to ignore.”
The Phillies will lean heavily on their rotation especially Wheeler given his track record. But coming back from a serious medical setback won’t be simple.
Philadelphia will certainly welcome his return, though it might not come without complications. If the reduced velocity persists, Wheeler may need to alter how he attacks hitters. With a $126 million commitment invested in him, the Phillies expect him to find a way to make it work.
