Phillies Ace Wheeler Eyes Quick Return After Rib Removal

Zack Wheeler keeps his surgically removed rib in a case in his closet, a unique souvenir that symbolizes what could become one of baseball's great comeback stories.

The Philadelphia Phillies ace had thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after a blood clot ended his 2025 season just as he was competing for the NL Cy Young Award. The procedure required removing the first rib near his right shoulder, which his doctor preserved and gifted to him afterward.

"You have to do a bunch of stuff to it, so I guess it doesn't decay," Wheeler explained at spring training Wednesday. It's not unusual for athletes to keep such mementos, and for Wheeler, it represents the obstacle he's determined to overcome.

The recovery timeline for this surgery typically runs six to eight months, meaning Wheeler will miss Opening Day on March 26. But his progress has been so encouraging that he's targeting the shorter end of that range.

Wheeler is currently playing catch from 90 feet and hasn't yet returned to throwing off a mound. Still, his confidence in returning to his dominant form hasn't wavered.

"I think any athlete, you have surgery, you're optimistic about it," Wheeler said. "You always have that good mindset where you're going to come back and be the same."

That optimism isn't unfounded. Before the injury, Wheeler posted a remarkable 69-37 record with a 2.91 ERA over six seasons with Philadelphia. He finished second for the NL Cy Young Award in both 2021 and 2024, and his 2.18 postseason ERA ranks sixth best in MLB history among pitchers with at least nine playoff starts.

The Bright Side

Wheeler's return could give the Phillies one of baseball's most formidable rotations. Combined with 2025 NL Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sánchez and other talented arms like Jesús Luzardo and top prospect Andrew Painter, Philadelphia's pitching staff could dominate when fully healthy.

The pitcher's methodical approach to recovery shows wisdom beyond rushing back. "You want to be back, but you also don't want to rush it at the same time," he noted, acknowledging that since Opening Day is already off the table, there's no point in cutting corners.

Wheeler feels "pretty much normal" now and is focused on hitting his checkmarks at each phase of recovery. He knows speed bumps may arise, but so far everything is progressing smoothly.

When he does return to the mound, that preserved rib in his closet will stand as a reminder of the obstacle he overcame to get back to doing what he loves.