Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler faced live hitters for the first time since his surgery.
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Zack Wheeler took his latest big step in his recovery process on Saturday, throwing against live hitters for the first time since surgery.
Zack Wheeler took his latest big step in his recovery process on Saturday, throwing against live hitters for the first time since surgery.
He threw in a live bullpen session and thr-threw to three Phillies hitters, throwing about twenty pitches and mixing a few different pitches in there as well.
He threw in a live bullpen session and thr-threw to three Phillies hitters, throwing about twenty pitches and mixing a few different pitches in there as well.
And Wheeler said overall he looked or felt pretty good on the mound, and he looked pretty good too.
And Wheeler said overall he looked or felt pretty good on the mound, and he looked pretty good too.
Now, he did s- admit that there are still some things he needs to work on, and he doesn’t wanna entertain the idea of him being ahead of schedule by any stretch of the imagination.
Now, he did s- admit that there are still some things he needs to work on, and he doesn’t wanna entertain the idea of him being ahead of schedule by any stretch of the imagination.
In fact, after the outing, Wheeler said, quote, “I think I’m probably just on track.
In fact, after the outing, Wheeler said, quote, “I think I’m probably just on track.
You guys know me by now.
You guys know me by now.
I really don’t try to get too excited about certain things and like I said before, just kinda take it day by day from there.”
I really don’t try to get too excited about certain things and like I said before, just kinda take it day by day from there.”
And taking it day by day and taking it one step at a time seems to be Wheeler’s mindset or has been Wheeler’s mindset throughout this entire process, and that continues to be the ca- the case as he progresses forward.
And taking it day by day and taking it one step at a time seems to be Wheeler’s mindset or has been Wheeler’s mindset throughout this entire process, and that continues to be the ca- the case as he progresses forward.
obviously, the next major step for him to take is throwing in an actual game, but before that happens, it would make sense for him to throw one or maybe even two more live bullpen sessions before that.
obviously, the next major step for him to take is throwing in an actual game, but before that happens, it would make sense for him to throw one or maybe even two more live bullpen sessions before that.
But this kinda all goes back to what Rob Thompson said a f- little bit earlier on in spring training, that Wheeler was gonna star-start a normal throwing program, which would take about six to eight weeks, and this live bullpen session is all a part of that.
But this kinda all goes back to what Rob Thompson said a f- little bit earlier on in spring training, that Wheeler was gonna star-start a normal throwing program, which would take about six to eight weeks, and this live bullpen session is all a part of that.
And if you follow those six to eight-week timeline, which Thompson gave again earlier in spring training, that puts him at about early to mid-April for a potential return.
And if you follow those six to eight-week timeline, which Thompson gave again earlier in spring training, that puts him at about early to mid-April for a potential return.
Now, again, there’s still a lot of things that need to fall in place.
Now, again, there’s still a lot of things that need to fall in place.
There’s still a lot of things that need to happen beforehand.
There’s still a lot of things that need to happen beforehand.
But it certainly does look like Wheeler is checking off those boxes, making good progress, and it could be sooner or later that he’s starting in, in the Philadelphia Phillies rotation once again.
But it certainly does look like Wheeler is checking off those boxes, making good progress, and it could be sooner or later that he’s starting in, in the Philadelphia Phillies rotation once again.