The worst possible news has been confirmed for the Philadelphia Phillies as they approach the final stretch of the Major League Baseball season. Zack Wheeler, one of the league’s most dominant pitchers, will miss the remainder of the season, leaving the team in a precarious position.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic was the first to report that Zack Wheeler will undergo surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS), a condition caused by the compression of the subclavian vein in the arm. The estimated recovery time is 6 to 8 months.
This diagnosis is not uncommon among pitchers, as VTOS often develops due to repetitive overhead arm movements. In Wheeler‘s case, however, the condition led to a blood clot that required immediate treatment for safety reasons.
The Phillies clarified that Wheeler opted for this procedure following an earlier surgery to initially address the blood clot.
For now, the absolute priority is Wheeler’s health and full recovery, with baseball taking a backseat. The decision to undergo this surgery is a critical step to ensure his long-term well-being.
An uncertain future
The sporting outlook, however, raises concerns. Over the years, several pitchers who underwent this surgery-such as Matt Harvey, Stephen Strasburg, and Chris Archer-failed to return to their previous competitive level. At 35 years old, there are no guarantees that Wheeler can reclaim his status as one of MLB’s most dominant arms.
A glimmer of hope
Despite this, there is an encouraging example: Merrill Kelly, who underwent the same procedure in September 2020 and has since remained an above-average starter in nearly every season. Although Kelly was younger than Wheeler at the time of his surgery, advancements in modern medicine offer a ray of hope for the Phillies‘ ace.
Ultimately, baseball is secondary-what matters most is that Wheeler makes a full recovery. Addressing the blood clot was the first step, and now, with this new surgery, he aims to return and prove he can still dominate on the mound in the twilight of his career.
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