He also revealed a humorous memory he received from that procedure.
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The rib that was removed to prevent a vein under his collarbone from being crushed is now in a small box.
“I just have it at home,” Wheeler said upon reporting for spring training, according to OnPattison’s Tim Kelly, drawing some laughs from reporters.
Naturally, a follow-up question was asked: “Where in the house?”
After a light laugh, Wheeler smilingly responded, “It’s in my closet.”
Wheeler had to surgically alter his thoracic outlet due to compression of that vein, which was caused by what is known as thoracic venous outlet syndrome (TOS).Advertisement
But first, he underwent a thrombolysis procedure to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder.
Wheeler’s NL Cy Young Award bid was cut short when he reported discomfort after an Aug. 15 start last season. After feeling abnormal heaviness in his shoulder, he received evaluations the next day. That’s when his blood clot was discovered, officially in his “right upper extremity.”
Wheeler, who will turn 36 in May, was asked Wednesday if there was any part of him that wasn’t sure he could throw again while going through his rare form of TOS.
“No,” Wheeler said, via OnPattison. “I think any athlete, if they have surgery, they’re optimistic about it. You always have that good mentality that you’re going to come back and be the same player you were. So that’s my mentality all the time: ‘I’m going to get back to where I was.’
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“I think that’s the right mindset.”
While the sample size isn’t large for major league and TOS pitchers, Wheeler isn’t the first to make this type of comeback. Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly did it in 2021.
The Phillies projected Wheeler’s recovery would take 6 to 8 months. Even if he is not in good condition at the beginning of the season, he may not need much more.
Wheeler pitched last weekend and, according to Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson, “went really well,” MLB.com reported.
In his first six seasons with the Phillies, Wheeler posted a 2.91 ERA. He has racked up 1,094 strikeouts in 979 innings along the way.
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Philadelphia hopes he returns to form.
“The progress so far is encouraging,” Wheeler said Wednesday, via OnPattison. “You don’t know what to expect as you go along. I’m sure you’re going to hit bumps along the way, as you do with any surgery or recovery. You just take it day by day, things as they come and go. I’m just trying to hit my marks…So far, everything’s going well with that. I’m really just trying to make sure the arm strength is there for every phase we get to and then move on to the next.”
The three-time All-Star echoed, “So far, so good.”