Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies Ace, Undergoes Surgery for Blood Clot
The Phillies’ ace, Zack Wheeler, underwent surgery on Monday to remove a blood clot in his right upper arm. The team has not yet defined a timeline for his recovery. Manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the uncertainty when asked if Wheeler will pitch again this season or if the situation could be a risk to his career. “We don’t know,” he stated. According to the Phillies’ statement, the thrombolysis procedure was performed by Dr. Paul DiMuzio at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Wheeler, a three-time All-Star and MLB leader with 195 strikeouts, was placed on the injured list on Saturday after experiencing “heaviness” in his shoulder following his last start. His condition relates to thoracic outlet syndrome, a known risk for overhead-throwing athletes, where compressed blood vessels or nerves near the neck can lead to clot formation. Treatments vary depending on the cause. In addition to procedures to dissolve clots, athletes often receive anticoagulant therapy for months or even undergo rib resection surgery to prevent recurrence, with high rates of return to play when these interventions are successful. Meanwhile, the Phillies are left without the anchor of their rotation six weeks before the end of the regular season. The team, leader of the National League East, will depend on a group of pitchers, including Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, and Jesús Luzardo, to cover the absence. Aaron Nola, who was out for three months due to ankle and rib injuries, returned to the rotation on Sunday.In 24 starts this season, Wheeler has a 10-5 record with an ERA of 2.71. He has pitched at least 192 innings in three of the last four seasons. Beyond the immediate implications in baseball, teammates have shown their support for Wheeler. “He is the heart of this team, the heart of the staff… you never want to see this,” said reliever Matt Strahm, emphasizing that Wheeler’s health is the priority for everyone.You could always count on Wheeler every five days, but at the same time, I have confidence in our entire rotation. It’s difficult to lose Zack, but I feel very good about our staff. I really believe it.
Rob Thomson
