Zack Wheeler threw his first bullpen session in Clearwater as Phillies stress patience for return

Good news out of Clearwater on Thursday morning. Zack Wheeler threw his first bullpen session since thoracic outlet decompression surgery on September 23, getting on the mound at BayCare Ballpark for a 21-pitch session featuring four-seam and two-seam fastballs.

By all accounts it went well. Rob Thomson said the velocity was good, the ball flight was good, he hit the glove, and Wheeler felt great coming out of it.

Zack Wheeler in Clearwater:

It's been too long since you've heard Zack Wheeler make the mitt pop ⚾💥 ⚾💥 pic.twitter.com/UXiK6W3uD8

— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) February 26, 2026

That is a meaningful step. Getting off the mound for the first time after that kind of surgery, feeling good, and getting positive feedback from the coaching staff is exactly what you want to see at this stage of the process.

Now for the reality check.

Zack Wheeler is not going to be ready for Opening Day. The Phillies have known that for weeks and it is not a surprise.

Thomson was asked if Wheeler could be ready for big league games in six weeks, and the answer was “possibly,” which is the coaching equivalent of “we really have no idea yet but we don’t want to completely rule it out.”

Late April to early May is probably the more realistic window, and even that is fluid.

Zack Wheeler himself said it clearly a couple weeks ago: “I’m missing Opening Day, so there’s no need to rush back and try to come back a week after that. You want to be back, but you also don’t want to rush it at the same time.”

That is the right mindset. Thoracic outlet surgery is not a conventional arm injury with a predictable return timeline.

Thomson acknowledged as much: “It all depends on how he feels and how he recovers. It’s new stuff, and it’s different from a lot of other injuries. You can’t pin it down to a week or a day, really.”

Zack Wheeler may not even pitch in a Grapefruit League or minor league game before the team breaks camp and heads back to Philadelphia on March 23. Thomson said that is “possible” but they are not counting on it.

The Phillies have enough rotation depth to manage without him for a stretch. Sanchez, Painter, Nola, Luzardo, and Walker give them options. But getting Wheeler back healthy and at full strength sometime in the spring is a massive boost to their ceiling. You do not rush that.

Phillies Updates: Aaron Nola on the bump today, with Cristopher Sanchez and Andrew Painter set to make Spring debuts this weekend

Thursday was step one. The steps after that will tell the real story.

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