The Philadelphia Phillies are missing one key piece of their 26-man roster, and when he returns, the team’s ceiling rises. That player is right-hander Zack Wheeler, who has not pitched since last August after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to remove a blood clot.
Before going down, the 35-year-old veteran remained one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Wheeler was firmly in the National League Cy Young conversation before the injury.
He owned a 2.71 ERA across 24 starts, including 195 strikeouts in 149 2/3 innings of work. That performance earned him his third career All-Star selection, and he played a crucial role in helping the Phillies win a second straight NL East division title despite missing the final month of the regular season.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45)© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
(© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
As the 2026 season continues, it remains clear that Wheeler will make his way back to Philadelphia and make an impact this year. When Wheeler originally suffered the injury, it was initially feared he might never return, considering many pitchers have struggled to come back after undergoing the same procedure.
However, Wheeler has not hit any setbacks in his rehab and has continued to ramp up since the beginning of spring training. Wheeler wrapped up his second rehab start on Saturday, and he was scheduled to make at least one more at the Triple-A level before rejoining the rotation.
There was a legitimate chance that it would be his final one, which was exciting for Phillies fans. Unfortunately, that will not be the case.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson spoke with reporters before Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies and announced that Wheeler would need a fourth rehab start after his outing next week, disappointing fans who hoped his return would come by mid-April. Instead, it will likely come toward the end of the month (h/t Matt Gelb of The Athletic).
The decision may have stemmed from Wheeler’s struggles during his second rehab start. He allowed five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out only one over three innings.
Still, Wheeler has had a long layoff since he last pitched, and one rough outing should not be too concerning. Giving him an extra start may be the smartest way to ensure he is fully prepared for the MLB level.
With the Phillies already relying heavily on their pitching depth, Wheeler’s eventual return will hinge on how well he responds to this final stage of his rehab.
Related: Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber Decision Could Be Good News for Bryce Harper
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.