Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler completed his first bullpen session since undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery last September. The 21-pitch outing took place on Thursday morning at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Manager Rob Thomson described the session as encouraging, though Wheeler's return timeline remains uncertain.
Zack Wheeler, the ace pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, marked a positive step in his recovery on Thursday morning at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. This was his first bullpen session since thoracic outlet decompression surgery on September 23. During the session, Wheeler threw four-seam and two-seam fastballs for a total of 21 pitches.
Following the Phillies' 7-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Washington Nationals, manager Rob Thomson provided an optimistic assessment. "The velo was good, the ball flight was good," Thomson said. "He hit the glove. It was good. He felt great. We’ll check him tomorrow, find out how he’s feeling and get a plan going moving forward."
Wheeler is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, a possibility the team ruled out weeks earlier. When asked about a potential return in six weeks for big league games, Thomson replied, "Possibly." However, he emphasized the fluid nature of the timeline, noting, "It all depends on how he feels and how he recovers. It’s new stuff, and it’s different from a lot of other injuries. You can’t pin it down to a week or a day, really."
Wheeler himself has expressed a measured approach to his rehabilitation. "I'm missing Opening Day, so there's no need to rush back and try to come back a week after that," he said a couple of weeks ago. "You want to be back, but you also don't want to rush it at the same time."
A more realistic target for Wheeler's return appears to be late April to early May. He may not pitch in a Grapefruit League or Minor League game before the Phillies depart Florida for Philadelphia on March 23. Thomson indicated it might be possible but added, "I hope [he pitches]."
Typically, Wheeler throws four or five bullpen sessions before spring camp when healthy, with two days of rest between them. His next mound work could come as soon as Sunday, though Thomson cautioned, "But I can’t answer that because this is different."
Overall, Thomson highlighted Wheeler's diligent offseason preparation. "He’s worked awfully hard," he said. "And that’s the key to it. He’s worked harder than he’s ever worked in the offseason. It’s a really good sign. He’s strong. The shoulder is stronger than it ever has been. So, really feel good about it. ... I’m telling you, it was very encouraging."
