The Philadelphia Phillies could be getting a major reinforcement in the very near future.
After progressing through multiple rehab outings, Zack Wheeler appears to be closing in on a return to the Phillies’ rotation. The veteran right-hander has continued to build up his workload with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, showing steady improvement with each appearance as he works back from thoracic outlet surgery.
Wheeler’s latest outing saw him stretch past the 60-pitch mark while flashing swing-and-miss ability, an encouraging sign as he ramps up toward game-ready form. While there’s still some fine-tuning to be done — including sharpening command and upping his velocity — the overall trajectory remains positive.
The timeline is beginning to take shape as well. With a limited window for rehab assignments, the Phillies will soon need to make a decision on activating Wheeler. The Phils’ ace will make an appearance for Reading on Tuesday, throwing about 80-85 pitched, according to Rob Thomson.
At this point, it feels less like a question of “if” and more about “when.”
For a Phillies team that has managed to stay afloat early in the season, Wheeler’s return could be a game-changer. Adding an ace back into the rotation not only stabilizes the staff but also provides a ripple effect throughout the pitching depth.
Simply put, help is on the way and it’s arriving at the perfect time for the Phillies.
