Zack Wheeler continued his rehab assignment Tuesday night with Double-A Reading, making his fourth start as he works back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Early on, the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) had no answer for Wheeler who was throwing a devastating sweeper that helped get him to nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work.
Wheeler faced the minimum number of hitters through five innings.
Trouble in the sixth inning
He ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing back-to-back singles to open the inning. One out later, George Lombard Jr. doubled off of Wheeler to drive in one run. Wheeler came back to get his ninth strikeout for the second out of the inning and Reading manager Al Pedrique stepped out of the dugout to remove him.
Luke Russo, who would have started the game and is the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, came on and gave up a three-run home run to outfielder Garrett Martin that allowed the two runners Wheeler had left on base to score.
Zack Wheeler Rehab Stats
| IP | H | ER | BB | KO | WHIP | OPP AVG | #P-K | |
| w/ Reading | 5.2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.700 | .200 | 72-49 |
| w/ Lehigh Valley | 10.1 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 1.260 | .243 | 148-96 |
| Combined | 16 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 1.063 | .217 | 220-145 |
The Phillies had wanted Wheeler to at least pitch into the sixth inning and get close to 80 pitches. His sweeper was getting the most swing and misses. His velocity started off around 93 but in the third inning touched 95 on a couple of pitches according to the Somerset broadcast.
Wheeler had to face Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. and shortstop Anthony Volpe, who started a rehab assignment of his own with Somerset on Tuesday.
What’s next for Zack Wheeler?
The Phillies are targeting Wheeler’s return to the major league rotation following one more rehab start. That start would come next week and would likely be in Reading when the Fightins host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto). If all goes well, Wheeler would then rejoin the Phillies rotation shortly after his next outing, putting him on track for a return before the end of April.
Reading Falls to Somerset
Somerset downed Reading 9-6 in the game. Russo (1-1) took the loss for Reading. The Fightins got a solo home run from Carson DeMartini in the first to take an early 1-0 lead. It was DeMartini’s second home run of the season. Dylan Campbell, who has struggled at the plate in the early going, hit his second home run of the season in the ninth, a three-run home run.
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