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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler underwent surgery Monday to remove a blood clot from his upper right arm, casting uncertainty over the rest of his season. Wheeler, 35, a three-time All-Star, was placed on the injured list after experiencing worsening heaviness in his shoulder following his Friday night start against Washington. Team officials said the procedure, known as thrombolysis, was performed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital by Dr. Paul DiMuzio.
Manager Rob Thomson admitted there is no clear recovery timeline, saying it is too early to know whether Wheeler will return to the mound this season or if the issue could even threaten his career. Wheeler’s condition relates to thoracic outlet syndrome, a problem in overhead-throwing athletes where compressed blood vessels near the neck can create clotting. Treatment can range from dissolving the clot to extended therapy with blood thinners or even rib surgery. Wheeler has been a durable force in recent years, throwing over 190 innings in three of the last four seasons. This year, he was 10–5 with a 2.71 ERA across 24 starts, leading the majors with 195 strikeouts and serving as the cornerstone of the Phillies’ pitching staff.
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Wheeler’s absence leaves a major void for the Phillies as they try to maintain their lead in the NL East with six weeks left in the regular season. He has long been considered the ace of the rotation, giving Philadelphia a dependable option every fifth day. Manager Rob Thomson acknowledged how difficult it is to lose such a reliable pitcher but expressed confidence in the rest of the rotation, including Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, Jesús Luzardo, and Aaron Nola. Nola returned recently after missing three months with ankle and rib injuries, giving the staff an important boost.
The Phillies, however, must now rally around a weakened rotation while keeping their postseason push on track. Beyond the baseball implications, Wheeler’s teammates stressed that his health is their top concern. Reliever Matt Strahm described him as the “heart of the team” and said the clubhouse is united in supporting him through recovery. While thoracic outlet–related procedures have shown high success rates in returning pitchers to play, Wheeler’s exact path forward remains uncertain. For now, the focus is on his health first, and the Phillies must adapt quickly to life without their ace as the playoff race heats up
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