Zack Wheeler’s Journey Post-Surgery
Zack Wheeler has shared an interesting tidbit about his health. The Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, who previously played for the Mets, disclosed on Wednesday that he still has some of his removed ribs from a September surgery sitting at home.
Last August, Wheeler was put on injured reserve after developing a blood clot in his upper leg, which led to a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome.
The 35-year-old right-hander underwent two major surgeries as part of his treatment. “We have to do a lot to do that,” he mentioned, referring to the rib removal, and noted that the Phillies’ head trainer, Paul Buchheit, played a role in “preserving” the removed bones.
“It’s just left at home,” Wheeler joked, adding that the ribs are safely stored in a case.
The first surgery involved thrombolytic therapy conducted by Dr. Paul DiMuzio at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. This was followed by thoracic outlet decompression surgery with Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis. It’s worth noting that the second operation required removing the first rib near his right shoulder.
When asked about the whereabouts of his ribs, Wheeler laughed, saying, “It’s in my closet.” He shared that while Dr. Thompson usually takes about a month to return removed body parts to patients, he expedited the process for Wheeler, handing it over in a bag. “It was pretty bad,” he added with a grin.
Despite the challenges, Wheeler is recovering well from the ordeal. He might not make it back in time for Opening Day, but team president Dave Dombrowski is optimistic, believing he will be ready soon after.
“I don’t think it will be long before he’s ready,” Dombrowski stated, as reported by The Athletic.
Before his injury, Wheeler was having a solid season, starting in 24 games with a 10-5 record and boasting a 2.71 ERA. His presence is crucial for the Phillies’ chances in the postseason, but he has hinted at retirement when his current contract ends. He signed a three-year, $126 million extension in March 2024, and despite still being an elite pitcher, he seemed ready to call it a career. “It doesn’t matter. No,” he remarked back then. “It would be easy to leave.”
