Phillies Boss Offers 2-Word Response On Zack Wheeler Injury Concern

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the first inning during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies lost the finale of their series with the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, but they were able to win their second straight series in Colorado and will look to keep that momentum going as their road trip moves on to San Francisco. As the team looks to accumulate early regular season wins and set itself up for a deep playoff run this year, fans can’t help but look ahead to the potential return for star pitcher Zack Wheeler.

He saw his Cy Young Award caliber campaign cut short last year when he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his throwing shoulder and in the latest step toward his return to the team, he took the mound in a minor league rehab start that did not go as well as some might have hoped. “Pitching for the Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the right-hander worked three innings against the Durham Bulls and threw 49 pitches,” Jim Salisbury reported for NBC Sports Philadelphia . “He allowed four hits, including a homer, and five runs while walking two and striking out one.

” MORE FROM FORBES Dodgers’ Max Muncy Claims Rogers Centre Before Blue Jays Visit: ‘This Is Our Building’ By Peter Chawaga Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler Raises Fastball Concerns During Rehab Start Wheeler’s command seemed to deteriorate after the first two innings and there was a notable downtick in his velocity. His fastball topped out at less than 94 mph, while it averaged 96 mph last year. As Wheeler looks to pick up where he left off last season following his surgery, he’ll want his fastball back at full strength.

But when asked about concerns that the pitcher’s stuff might never come all the way back, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski downplayed the latest results. “We expect it to keep building up,” Dombrowski said, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb . “And you never know until you see anybody regain the total stuff, but everybody tells me, ‘Don’t be worried about it.