Philadelphia Phillies Give Encouraging Injury Update on Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler could return to the Philadelphia Phillies rotation not too long after Opening Day.
Video Transcript
It may still be a little bit before Zach Wheeler returns to the Philadelphia Phillies rotation, but the team did get very encouraging injury update on him following his bullpen session on Thursday.
Rob Thompson said on Friday that Wheeler will now start a six-week ramp-up program to get back to game action, which six weeks from Thursday is April ninth, putting him in a possible early to mid-April range of a return, which is incredible news considering just how serious that shoulder injury and surgery was.
The Phillies skipper also said Wheeler is now shooting for regular build-up, meaning he'll throw another bullpen session on Sunday, and the team will see how he recovers from that and how he responds to that bullpen session then on Monday to determine what the next steps are.
Wheeler did say that he didn't really know how he was gonna feel during that bullpen session on Thursday, but ultimately, it felt natural being on the mound.
He felt good.
All of everything felt normal for him, which again, is great-- is a great sign that he's in-- progressing in the right direction to be on schedule to return to the Philade- Phillies rotation, hopefully as soon as possible.
I will say this, and this is something I've been saying a lot with this Wheeler injury and return, as great as it would be for Wheeler to be starting games for the Phillies into April, I really hope he doesn't get rushed back just because the Phillies might need a fifth starter early on in the season.
The Phillies are a better team when Zach Wheeler is pitching for them in the playoffs, in the postseason, at the end of September and October.
That's really when they're gonna need him, not in April.
So yes, this is incredible and encouraging news.
But at the same time, I hope that he takes his time and isn't rushed back, and if there even is a slight maybe something doesn't feel right, the Phillies take that time and give him the rest he needs so he can recover and be for the team when they need him, which is gonna be in October.
