CLEARWATER, Fla. – The last time Zack Wheeler looked in at a catcher with a hitter in the batter’s box was August 15 in Washington, seven long months and one surgery ago.

So, you can understand why Wheeler’s trip to the mound late Saturday morning at Phillies camp had the feel of an event.

A gaggle of fans was on hand at mostly empty BayCare Ballpark. The group included Wheeler’s wife, Dominique, and their three young children. This was an important work day for Dad as he was facing hitters for the first time since having surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome in September. The fans got it. They applauded Wheeler when he took the mound and again when his brief outing was complete.

“It went well,” Wheeler said. “I felt a little more in sync. I thought that might happen when I faced hitters instead of just throwing bullpens. In bullpens, sometimes you fight your timing a little bit.

“I’m happy with today, getting through it and accomplishing everything I was looking to do.”

Wheeler threw his entire arsenal in his 20-pitch work session against Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs. His fastball reached 93 mph, normal, he said, for his first live BP session of the spring.

“I just have to take it day by day,” the 35-year-old right-hander said. “I look forward to the next one, trying to crisp it up a little more and get the velo up a tick more. Each time out with the velo, get just a tick higher. That’s usually how it goes in spring for me.”

The team will evaluate Wheeler on Sunday and determine from there when his next live BP session will be. He will push his pitch count a little higher and maybe simulate an inning break with an up-down in that one. It’s all part of a pitcher’s normal spring-training progression. It is highly unlikely that Wheeler will pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the Phils depart Florida a week from Monday. However, if all continues to go smoothly in his build-up, he could get an inning or two in a minor-league game next door at Carpenter Complex.

Wheeler was asked if he felt as if he was ahead of schedule in his spring build-up.

“I think I’m probably on track,” he said.

And what is that track?

The Phillies are keeping that close to the vest.

There is no public timetable for when Wheeler will make his regular season debut. Opening day is out of the question. Mid-April to early May seems like a good bet. No one is rushing this thing.

“Take it day by day and hope for the best,” Wheeler said. “So far, so good. We’ve still got a long way to go, so I’ll keep my head down and keep going.”

Perhaps the best measure of Wheeler’s progress and health is the easy smile that the all-business pitcher has worn all spring.

“It’s just good seeing him compete again and seeing the excitement back on his face again — even though there’s not really much you can see,” reliever Orion Kerkering said. “But you can just tell there’s some excitement there.”

Kerkering, along with Andrew Painter, Taijuan Walker and Jesus Luzardo, was on hand for Wheeler’s live BP session. Kerkering, who has been slowed by a hamstring strain, also threw to hitters for the first time this spring. Next up for him is an inning in a Grapefruit League, perhaps on Tuesday.