The Philadelphia Phillies secured a victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday, but it came on the heels of a tough loss.
The team confirmed that star pitcher Zack Wheeler will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot near his shoulder. According to Paul Casella of MLB.com, his estimated recovery time is six to eight months.
However, considering Wheeler’s age, the wear and tear on his arm, and the severity of a blood clot, there’s growing speculation about whether he’ll attempt a comeback at all.
“The three-time All-Star is under contract through the 2027 season, but something this serious could cause an athlete and his family to reconsider things,” Tim Kelly noted for On Pattison.
Wheeler had repeatedly said that after his deal with the Phillies concludes, he will retire from pitching altogether. But it’s reasonable to wonder if a health scare like this could change that timeline.
When asked if Wheeler is committed to continuing his career through the rest of his contract with the Phillies, the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, offered a clear two-word response.
“For sure,” Dombrowski said, per Kelly.
Wheeler’s commitment means he’s aiming to rejoin the Phillies early next season. There’s cautious optimism within the organization that he can return to his dominant form, but only time will reveal how realistic that is.
For now, the Phillies will have to pursue their World Series hopes without their top arm. In the short term, Cristopher Sánchez appears to be the go-to choice to start Game 1 of a playoff series. Beyond that, however, the team faces uncertainty as it figures out how to navigate the postseason without its ace.
Leave a Reply