Zack Wheeler isn’t a calendar racer. Trying to overcome thoracic outlet syndrome is his goal. Rob Thomson, the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, finally acknowledged on Monday what the entire franchise has been waiting for: the ace most likely won’t be on the mound when Philadelphia begins the 2026 season.
Although he doesn’t anticipate Wheeler being ready by Opening Day, Thomson stated that he “doesn’t think he’ll be too far behind that,” emphasizing that rehabilitation is proceeding smoothly thus far, according to Paul Casella of MLB.com.
Even while the Phillies are holding out hope for the remainder of the season, that is the most obvious public indicator to far that they are preparing for a brief existence without their number one.
Philadelphia Phillies News: Zack Wheeler Injury Update
All of this began with a diagnosis that no one wanted to hear. Wheeler’s arm pain, which was later determined to be caused by a blood clot in his right upper extremity, led to his closure in late August. Doctors advised thoracic outlet decompression surgery after more testing identified venous thoracic outlet syndrome, a dangerous disorder in which blood vessels are constricted close to the shoulder.
The Phillies promptly declared that Wheeler would have surgery and miss the remainder of the 2025 season; preliminary projections indicate that he will take six to eight months to recuperate. It was a devastating blow to a 35-year-old workhorse who had been one of baseball’s most resilient frontline starters, as well as to the rotation that had been constructed around him.
Zack Wheeler Rehab News
The updates have walked the same tightrope since the operation: cautious but optimistic. Wheeler’s progress was described as “great” and “right where it should be” in January reports from Philadelphia. The right-hander was throwing lightly, increasing his arm strength, and working with trainers on a regular basis. However, there was a catch to all of those tales: the Phillies would not mark Opening Day with ink.
Thomson’s tone, “not Opening Day, but not far behind,” is perfectly in line with how teams typically handle similar deadlines because Philadelphia’s medical staff is aware that it cannot afford to lose Wheeler.
Phillies’ Rotation: Looking for Help?
This is about more than just April for the Phillies. It concerns the number of Wheeler starts they achieve at about maximum capacity during the upcoming six months. Before the injury, he’d been one of baseball’s most reliable top‑end arms, piling up innings, strikeouts, and postseason starts without blinking.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the Phillies might need assistance. According to Nightengale, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski may search the trade market this spring for additional starting pitching depth.
The impact of Wheeler’s absence on young arms like Andrew Painter and the depth behind the top four have already been discussed in public by the organization, and that calculus doesn’t change just because the news is presented favorably.
In a close National League competition, even a “short” delay to Wheeler’s season may be the difference between a strong start and a scramble.
