After undergoing two surgeries in 2025, it was initially unclear when in the 2026 season Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler would see the mound. Wheeler threw a bullpen on Saturday, however, and the plan manager Rob Thomson laid out afterward bodes well for his return to Major League action.
Wheeler, 35, has been one of the finest pitchers of this decade. In the 2020s, he leads all starting pitchers in fWAR (28.6), ranks third in innings pitched (979), third in strikeouts (1094), and eighth in ERA (2.91) while throwing considerably more innings than the seven names above him.
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Last season was a trying one for Wheeler, who had to get a blood clot in his right shoulder removed in August and required another surgery in September to address his thoracic outlet syndrome. As a result, Wheeler is behind on the spring training ramp-up schedule. But after throwing a bullpen session today, Thomson announced that Wheeler would throw another bullpen next Tuesday with a higher pitch count and the possibility of throwing two innings with a break in between (h/t Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer).
This is encouraging news for the Phillies and Wheeler alike as it suggests that everything went smoothly in his first bullpen session. The Phillies still have one of the better rotations in baseball even without Wheeler, but he unquestionably raises the team’s ceiling in the playoffs.
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The Phillies must have recognized this, too, because they made history before the 2025 season when they gave Wheeler the highest AAV (average annual value) contract extension in major-league history, extending him on a 3 year, $126 million deal.
And prior to the discovery of his blood clot and subsequent shutdown in August, Wheeler showed why he got such a lucrative extension: in 149 2/3 innings, the veteran right-hander had a 2.71 ERA, 195 strikeouts and 4.0 fWAR.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45)© Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
(© Dennis Lee-Imagn Images)
If his simulated pitching session on Tuesday goes well, the logical next step for Wheeler is a live game appearance, be that in spring training or against minor leaguers depending on his timeline.
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Even in the best case scenario, Wheeler isn’t expected to be ramped up in time for opening day. But the recent news would suggest a return sometime around early-mid April, as it is now simply a matter of building his arm back up with more and more innings. In the meantime, the 33-year-old Taijuan Walker will likely be expected to cover his innings on the mound.
Related: Phillies’ Jesus Luzardo Extension is Good News for Cristopher Sanchez
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.