During the 2025 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies were hit with some brutal news. Zack Wheeler, the team's ace and one of the Cy Young candidates at the time, was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, ending his 2025 season in August.
With the trade deadline passed, the Phillies needed to reevaluate their rotation, and fortunately, Aaron Nola was coming back, and the rest of the starters were pitching well. They got through 2025, but ahead of 2026, the status of Wheeler is of great importance.
NBC Sports Philadelphia carried Dave Dombrowski's end-of-year press conference, and there he revealed a timeline for Wheeler's return. For the first time since his surgery, Wheeler has a timeline to return and is planning to begin rehab as well.
Zack Wheeler to begin rehab in coming weeks, receives updated recovery timeline
"Well, Zack is starting next we'll come in for his rehab program," Dombrowski revealed. "Everything has gone well with the surgery. He feels fine. He'll start next week, and again nothings changed in regard that they feel it will be six to eight months that he could be back pitching for us."
This update from Dombrowski is a good one for the Phillies, as while they will likely have to start the year without Wheeler in the rotation, a return is expected at some point during the season.
A window of six to eight months puts Wheeler in line to make his return to the rotation as early as the end of Spring Training to the end of May. Returning by the beginning of the year might not happen, but the window for his return beginning then is a good sign.
Wheeler returning to the team and beginning rehab is also a great sign. Dombrowski said that Wheeler has been resting, but now that the season is over, he's stepping back into team facilities to work his way back.
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The 35-year-old ace is a huge part of the Phillies' rotation, and getting him back in 2026 will be a massive boost to one of the league's best starting rotations.
Before being ruled out for the year, Wheeler had a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts for the Phillies. Across 149.2 innings, he struck out 195 batters. His 163 ERA+ was the same as he had a year ago, when he had 224 strikeouts across 200 innings in 32 starts with a 2.57 ERA.
A pitcher of his caliber is a huge part of any team, and to lose him so late in the year was a massive blow for the Phillies. But now, he's heading in the right direction to make a return to the club in 2026, even if it might be as late as the end of May.
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