Zack Wheeler Out for the Rest of the Season: A Tough Blow for the Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies’ star pitcher, Zack Wheeler, will miss the remainder of the season and is expected to be out of action for six to eight months due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The team announced this on Saturday. The 35-year-old right-hander underwent surgery this week to remove a blood clot in his throwing shoulder. Venous thoracic outlet syndrome, a rare subtype of the compression disorder that pinches a vein and causes blood clots to form, is corrected by surgery. This intervention, recommended for Wheeler, could allow him to return for Opening Day 2026. The surgery generally involves removing a rib to decompress the area.The absence of Wheeler for the rest of 2025 represents a significant setback for the Phillies’ championship aspirations. Since signing with the team before the 2020 season, Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, a tireless worker with a low ERA and high strikeout totals, thanks to his precise control and variety of high-caliber pitches. Wheeler has been a mainstay in the Phillies’ rotation, completing his full complement of starts in four of five seasons and regularly finishing near the top in Cy Young voting. He was having a solid season, leading the league with 195 strikeouts in 149¾ innings and allowing less than one baserunner per inning with an ERA of 2.71. Despite Wheeler’s absence, the Phillies have depth in their starting pitching staff, including Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker. In addition, they could call up prospect Andrew Painter to reinforce a pitching staff that has added closer Jhoan Duran and reliever David Robertson in the last month.It’s disappointing, but everyone knows it’s out of our control. We are happy that he is going to be healthy, because it’s something very serious that he went through.
Rob Thomson, Phillies Manager
With a record of 75-54, Philadelphia leads the National League East Division with a six-game lead over the New York Mets and would currently hold the second spot in the NL playoffs.It’s never good to lose a Zack Wheeler, your number 1 pitcher. I think we have the depth in starting pitching to do well. Again, you’re never going to replace a person like that. … I’ve been in all kinds of scenarios with pitchers out. We have a good team and we will look for others to step up and cover the loss.
Dave Dombrowski, Phillies President of Baseball Operations
