Phillies' Zack Wheeler Says He Kept Rib That Was Removed During Blood Clot Surgery

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler kept more than just the scar from his thoracic outlet surgery that ended his 2025 season prematurely.

Speaking to reporters from spring training on Wednesday, Wheeler said he kept the rib that was removed from his procedure and keeps it in a closet in his house.

The Phillies announced on Aug. 23 that Wheeler had to undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery after having a blood clot removed from his right upper-extremity.

Per Yale Medicine, thoracic outlet syndrome is a "compression of veins, arteries, or nerves between your collarbone and top rib." Surgery typically involves cutting muscle or removing an extra rib that is pressing on nerves or blood vessels.

Wheeler was having a Cy Young-caliber season at the time of the procedures. He wound up being shut down for the rest of the year, including missing the postseason.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said on Monday that Wheeler is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season, but he shouldn't be "too far behind that" as far as his return.

There's no indication that Wheeler is using the rib as any sort of voodoo item to bring him good fortune and ensure the Phillies a successful 2026 season, but it wouldn't be the weirdest thing an athlete has ever done out of superstition.

A healthy Wheeler exponentially increases the Phillies' chances of playing for a World Series title. The right-hander had a 2.71 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings last season.

Wheeler has finished in the top 10 in NL Cy Young voting in four of the last five seasons. His 2.90 ERA since 2021 is the best among all pitchers who have thrown at least 800 innings.