Zack Wheeler wins NL Comeback Player of the Year

Major surgery, a long rehab, 36 years old, and Zack Wheeler is still one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Wheeler was named NL Comeback Player of the Year on Wednesday night at the MLB Awards in Las Vegas. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez took home the honor in the AL.

Zack Wheeler wins NL Comeback Player of the Year

He came back. He conquered. 🛞

Zack Wheeler is the 2026 National League Comeback Player of the Year! pic.twitter.com/6mV19tvwNS

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 12, 2026

Wheeler was dealing in 2025, with a 2.71 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP through 24 starts. Then in late August, he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and needed surgery that was expected to keep him out six to eight months.

He came back on April 25 and picked up right where he left off. Wheeler posted a 3.00 ERA with 193 strikeouts in 162 innings. He ranked eighth among qualified pitchers in strikeout-minus-walk rate at 22.6% and finished among the 10 most valuable arms in baseball by Statcast’s pitching run value.

Add Zack Wheeler’s award to Cristopher Sánchez making the All-MLB First Team and Jesús Luzardo making the Second Team, and the Phillies had a pretty good night in Vegas, but it’s not like we didn’t know the rotation was dominant already, right?

Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo both land spots on the All-MLB Team >>

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