Zack Wheeler isn’t backing down not from rehab, not from expectations, and certainly not from the gruesome details of the surgery that temporarily derailed his season.
The ace right-hander continues progressing in his return to the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies after being diagnosed last summer with venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Now, he’s pulling back the curtain on exactly what it took to fix the issue and it wasn’t pretty.
In a candid explanation shared via Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wheeler described the procedure in blunt terms.
“Basically all they do is go in, chop the bone, get rid of that rib because that’s what’s causing it, get rid of the blood clot, and then open up the vein,” Wheeler said. “My vein closed back, I think two different times, so they had to go back and open it. If it happened again, I think they were just going to do a stent. But so far, so good.”
The surgery involved removing a rib to relieve pressure on the vein and eliminate the clot a process that required additional intervention when the vein repeatedly closed post-operation. Doctors were prepared to insert a stent if complications continued, but fortunately, Wheeler’s recovery has stabilized.
Just over a week ago, he was spotted throwing during spring training for the first time since undergoing the procedure a major milestone for both him and the Phillies. The sight of their frontline starter back on the mound offered a surge of optimism inside the clubhouse.
Despite how intense the operation may sound, Wheeler insists it hasn’t shaken his confidence.
“I don’t think there’s any reason why I wouldn’t be who I am,” he said. “It’s not like a major surgery. I just got a rib taken out. It might sound like a crazy situation, or crazy surgery, or whatever, but mentally, I’m not really stressed about it. Physically, I’m not really stressed about it.”
That mindset should excite Philadelphia fans. Wheeler has been one of baseball’s most dominant arms in recent years, compiling a 69–37 record with a sparkling 2.91 ERA, 1,094 strikeouts, and a 1.016 WHIP across 979 innings. His consistency and durability have anchored the rotation.
While he won’t be ready for Opening Day, all signs point to Wheeler rejoining the Phillies at some point this season and if his defiant tone is any indication, he fully expects to return as the same overpowering ace who has defined Philadelphia’s pitching staff.
