Zack Wheeler’s second rehab start was messy but the timeline for return is still intact

Zack Wheeler made his second rehab start on Friday night for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in Durham and it was a mixed bag. Three innings, five runs, four hits including a homer, two walks, one strikeout, 49 pitches.

Zack Wheeler Second Rehab Start for AAA Lehigh Valley

Zack Wheeler yesterday for AAA Lehigh Valley

3.0 IP | 4 H | 5 ER | 1 K
1 HR pic.twitter.com/rLvb1XkYPw

— SleeperPhillies (@SleeperPhillies) April 4, 2026

The context matters. Zack Wheeler was one out away from finishing three scoreless innings when a fly ball dropped between the left fielder and center fielder to score two runners. That miscommunication in the outfield was the turning point.

Wheeler then hit a batter, fell behind 3-0 to Jacob Melton, and threw a fastball right down the middle on the 3-0 count. Melton was swinging and crushed a three-run homer to right. Inning over. Night over.

Zack Wheeler’s second rehab start wasn’t without its hiccups.

Wheeler allowed 5 runs on 4 hits & 2 walks (his defense didn’t help). He struck out just 1.

Wheeler threw 49 pitches and it should be noted the velocity on his Fastball was down slightly from his first rehab start. pic.twitter.com/3U8GGzQueJ

— Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast (@tablesetterspod) April 4, 2026

Most of the damage came on plays that had nothing to do with Zack Wheeler’s execution. That does not make the line look better but it does matter when evaluating where he actually is.

The health is fine. Thomson confirmed that. The thoracic outlet syndrome surgery has not created any complications and Wheeler is not dealing with any physical setbacks. The issue is the velocity, which has been slow to come back.

He topped out at 93.9 mph and averaged 92.7 on Friday, slightly down from his first rehab outing. He averaged 96 mph on his four-seamer last season. That gap is the thing to watch and it is the reason the Phillies are not rushing him back.

Zack Wheeler will make his third rehab start Wednesday night at Lehigh Valley with a target of around 65 pitches. If that goes well he could push 80 in a fourth start, which would likely be his last before rejoining the big league club.

If everything stays on schedule the earliest he could make his first Phillies start is during the four-game series at Wrigley Field beginning April 20th.

Two more minor league starts. A velocity that needs to climb back toward 96. And a rotation that has been good enough without him to keep the Phillies in the conversation while he gets there.

When Wheeler is right he is one of the five best starters in baseball. The Phillies are being patient for a reason.

Join The Chase