Actions speak louder than words. It’s one thing for the Phillies to say that Zack Wheeler will be back before May 1st, but when they do something that shows that’s the case, it’s another thing. Pitchers are limited to 30 days on a rehab assignment and the Phillies will start that clock on Saturday when Wheeler starts for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park.
Wheeler is rehabbing from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery that sidelined him late last season. Some initial estimates put his return sometime in May. Wheeler has progressed through various stages of his rehab over the winter in Philadelphia and then continued his work in Clearwater during Spring Training. He progressed from long tossing to bullpen sessions, then throwing live BP. On Monday, the Phillies ace was on the backfields at the Carpenter Complex pitching to lower level minor leaguers in a simulated game. The session went well and Wheeler reported no issues during the outing, all of which was good news for the Phillies.
The Phillies have been cautious in moving Wheeler from one step of his rehab to another and have stressed that they are not putting any timetable on his return and that they will not rush him to get back to the big league club.
“It was a successful spring,” Wheeler told reporters after his session on Monday. “It was good to check this box and have no setbacks as we move through camp to be able to get to this point.”
Before the Phillies officially wrapped up Spring Training and headed for Philadelphia where they open at home on Thursday against the Texas Rangers, manager Rob Thomson told reporters that Wheeler would open the season on a rehab assignment and would pitch Saturday for Lehigh Valley. The plan is for Wheeler to throw three innings against the Toledo Mud Hens.
While rehab assignments can run as long as 30 days they can be shorter if the pitcher is ready to come off of the IL and be activated. They can also be paused should the pitcher run into any setbacks or issues along the way, extending the initial 30 day length. If he needs the entire 30 days, the rehab assignment would end on April 28. The Phillies begin a short three-day homestand against San Francisco that night before travelling to Miami for a four-game set.
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