Zack Wheeler’s season is over.
Wheeler was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and will undergo surgery in the coming weeks, the Phillies announced Saturday. The general timeline for recovery for thoracic outlet decompression surgery is six to eight months.
Wheeler, 35, was first diagnosed with a blood clot in his upper right arm after reporting heaviness near his shoulder. He underwent a successful thrombolysis procedure to remove the clot Monday and saw multiple specialists afterward to gather opinions. The unanimous recommendation was the surgery.
» READ MORE: Trea Turner and Bryson Stott giving the Phillies a jolt at the top and bottom of the lineup in August
“We figure that he’ll come back in the six to eight month time period and come back and be the Zack Wheeler of old,” said Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “That’s what we’ve been told. And unless something unanticipated happens, he’ll be able to come back and pitch like he has before this.”
According to Penn Medicine, venous TOS is caused by compression of the subclavian vein, which runs between the collarbone and first rib.
Rangers pitcher Merrill Kelly was diagnosed with venous TOS in 2020 when he was with the Diamondbacks and underwent surgery in which a rib and part of a neck muscle was removed to relieve the compression, according to the Washington Post. He returned to the mound in 2021 and made 27 starts that season and 33 in 2022.
Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit said pitchers typically can begin throwing again eight weeks after undergoing the procedure, although the timeline can vary and depends on various factors.
“With Zack, it was an acute onset, and so he doesn’t have that long, protracted time period where he’s been battling things,” Buchheit said. “The surgeons say that he’s going to have a really good prognosis with this.”
Wheeler was at Citizens Bank Park on Friday. Manager Rob Thomson hopes Wheeler can be around his teammates down the stretch while he completes his rehab.
As the Phillies proceed in the pennant race without their ace, the rest of the rotation will need to step up. Wheeler had been putting together another Cy Young-caliber season before his diagnosis, with a 10-5 record, a 2.71 ERA, and a 0.94 WHIP over 149⅔ innings.
“It’s never good to lose a Zack Wheeler, your number one pitcher,” Dombrowski said. “I think we have starting pitching depth that’s capable of pitching well for us, pitching well in the postseason. Again, you’re never going to replace an individual like that, but when you go into the postseason in all different type of scenarios, with different pitchers being out, we have good ballclub and other people to step up and pick up the slack for us.”
» READ MORE: Trea Turner and Bryson Stott giving the Phillies a jolt at the top and bottom of the lineup in August
A big piece of that depth will need to be Aaron Nola, who made his second start Saturday since being reinstated from the injured list. Nola had struggled to a 1-7 record and 6.92 ERA entering Saturday and had been plagued by inconsistent command. But Thomson expects the veteran pitcher to regain his past form.
“I expect good things out of Nola,” Thomson said. “I really do. He’s done it for a long time. He’s experienced. He’s gone through ruts and come out of it in the past. He’s going to be fine.”
Before Wheeler’s initial diagnosis, Thomson had planned to move to a six-man rotation to relieve some pressure on the starters. For now, at least, he’s sticking with five — Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Taijaun Walker, Ranger Suárez, and Nola — to not overextend the bullpen.
That may change when MLB rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1, which would give the Phillies more flexibility.
Extra bases
Top prospect Andrew Painter threw five innings for Lehigh Valley on Friday, allowing four hits and one earned run. He walked four batters and struck out five. Thomson said he watched the outing. “I thought he was much better [Friday],” he said. “I really did. I know he walked four guys, but he didn’t miss by much. The fastball command was much better. Stuff is still really good, and velocity really, really good. So it was encouraging.” … Bryce Harper was in the lineup as designated hitter Saturday for a day off his feet. Kyle Schwarber started in left field, while Weston Wilson started at first base. … Suárez (9-6, 3.25 ERA) is scheduled to start against Nationals righty Jake Irvin (8-8, 5.30) in Sunday’s series finale.
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