The Philadelphia Phillies are a different team with right-hander Zack Wheeler on the mound.
Following thoracic outlet decompression surgery (TOS), Wheeler, 36, returned to the Phillies rotation April 25 agains the Atlanta Braves,
The return of Wheeler makes the Phillies rotation even more lethal, and gives the team one of the best starting five in the game.
Having Wheeler back on the mound has certainly energized the Phillies, who are on a roll in the very competitive National League East Division.
Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler’s Surgeries:
The thoracic outlet decompression surgery (TOS) required the removal of Wheeler’s right rib.
Wheeler’s injury dates back to August 2025. At that time, Wheeler had surgery to remove a blood clot near his throwing shoulder.
Following that initial surgery, Wheeler had that complex decompression surgery in late September last year.
At the time of his initial surgery, then Phillies manager Rob Thomson to news10.com, “It’s disappointing, but everybody knows it’s out of our control.”
Wheeler is 6-4, 195 pounds, making Wheeler’s surgical situations even more compelling.
In a study described on doaj.com of pitchers who have had thoracic outlet surgery (TOS) and those who have not, the study found no difference in postoperative performance compared with the control group (non-surgical pitchers.)”
Wheeler is showing that to be true in his case.
Philadelphia Phillies Wheeler Finds Success Right Away:
It is never clear if a pitcher can return to normal form after thoracic outlet surgery.
But Wheeler has been his same old self in his first five Phillies appearances of the season.
Wheeler made his first 2026 Phillies start on April 25. He went 5 innings against the Braves in a game the Phillies won, 8-5. Wheeler did not get a decision in the game.
Wheeler then threw six innings against the Miami Marlins May 1, in a 6-5 Phillies win. He earned his first win of the year.
He then defeated the Athletics May 6, getting no decision in that game.
Wheeler’s fourth start was against the Boston Red Sox on May 12. He went 7.1 innings, yielding six hits, and one run, with four strikeouts, and no walks. He got a win in the game.
Then, in a highly anticipated rivalry matchup with National League 2025 Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on May 17, Wheeler out dueled the Pittsburgh Pirates All Star. They defeated the Pirates in a 6-0 Phillies shutout.
In his victory over the Pirates, Wheeler clearly out pitched Skenes. Wheeler got the win in the game.
Wheeler went 7 innings, yielding four hits and no runs, while walking one and striking out eight. It took Wheeler 98 pitches to get through seven innings. He got his third win in that game.
Skenes went five innings, yielding six hits, five runs, one walk and seven strikeouts.
Wheeler has now thrown five outstanding games in his return to the Phillies mound.
Wheeler’s win over Pittsburgh followed a masterful performance by Phillies left-hander, Christopher Sanchez, who shut out the same Pirates club May 16.
Sanchez threw a complete game shutout, yielding six hits, walking none, and striking out 13.
In two weekend games against the Pirates, Wheeler and Sanchez yielded one run, and 12 hits in 16.1 innings of brilliant pitching.
In five starts, Zack Wheeler has three wins, has thrown 31.2 innings, allowed seven earned runs, and has struck out 30. He has walked only seven.
The return of Wheeler now gives the Phillies a formidable rotation of Sanchez, Wheeler, right-hander Andrew Painter, lefty Jesus Luzardo, and righty Aaron Nola.
More About Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler:
In a recent article about Wheeler’s return, mlb.com had these things to say after the Red Sox game:
“1-Wheeler’s velocity has continued to improve as he ramps up, though there is still room for improvement.
2- When Wheeler described feeling a bit off last week, he noted that applied ‘especially with the sweeper and curveball.
3- One of the many things that made Wheeler arguably the best pitcher in the Majors over the past half-decade in his pinpoint command. In his first three starts, however, that hasn’t quite been there.”
After the Pirates game, it seems all the issues are in the rear-view mirror.
Wheeler throws five different pitches in his repertoire during the month of May 2026. Those pitches include:
four-seam fastball at 94.90 miles per hour (31.9 % of his pitches)
sinking fastball at 94.44 miles per hour (19.35%)
slider at 80.79 miles per hour (14.7%)
curveball at 79.79 miles per hour (7.17%)
cutter at 90.90 miles per hour (12.19%
split finger at 86.64 (14,7%)
Conclusion About Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler:
The Philadelphia Phillies ace right-hander, Zack Wheeler is back from injury, and pitching as well as ever.
The Phillies rotation is rolling with Zack Wheeler back on the mound.
