Phillies' Zack Wheeler to Have Surgery After Blood Clot Removal, Out 6-8 Months

The Philadelphia Phillies announced that starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has been diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and will undergo surgery with a recovery time of six to eight months.

Wheeler last took the mound on Aug. 15. He went on the injured list due to a blood clot in his right upper extremity (near his shoulder) the following day before undergoing successful surgery to remove the clot on Aug. 18. Manager Rob Thomson did not give a timetable for Wheeler's return at the time, citing the need for further information.

The Philadelphia ace, who finished runner-up in the National League Cy Young race last year, dominated in 24 starts this season, going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA (0.94 WHIP) while striking out an NL-high 194 batters.

Phillies general manager Dave Dombrowski spoke with reporters after the news broke, and he said Wheeler, whose contract with Philadelphia runs through 2027, will look to continue his career after he recovers.

Wheeler has previously said he plans to retire after the 2027 season, when his contract expires.

Simply put, Wheeler has been tremendous in Philadelphia since arriving from the New York Mets in free agency before the 2020 season. In six years, Wheeler has gone 69-37 with a 2.91 ERA (1.02 WHIP) and 9.5 K/9 rate. He's finished top six in the Cy Young race on three occasions and made three All-Star Games as well.

Wheeler has also been lights-out in the playoffs, going 4-3 with a 2.18 ERA (0.73 WHIP) and a 9.9 K/9 rate.

Needless to say, he's a tremendous loss for the Phillies, who currently hold a six-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East.

The six-to-eight-month recovery timeline puts Wheeler back in action sometime during the 2026 season. Hopefully he's able to fully recover and get back on the field ASAP.

Until then, the Phils must forge ahead this season without their ace. Their rotation consists of Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker and Aaron Nola.