PHILADELPHIA. – The
Philadelphia Phillies received a hard blow in the final stretch of the season by confirming that their ace
Zack Wheeler underwent a
thrombolysis surgical procedure on Monday to remove a blood clot in his right arm.
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The procedure was successfully performed by Dr.
Paul DiMuzio at
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the club reported. However, the team did not offer a defined schedule for the return of the star pitcher.
Wheeler, 34, had entered the injured list on Saturday after the medical staff detected the complication. The head athletic trainer, "Paul Buchheit", explained that the right-hander had expressed "heaviness" in his shoulder after his last outing on Friday, preceded also by delays and physical discomfort that he had been experiencing since the beginning of August.
Star Level Season Interrupted
Until the injury, Wheeler was living another elite campaign, with a record of
10-5 and
2.71 effectiveness in 24 starts, accumulating
195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings. His level kept him in the conversation for the
National League Cy Young, an award he already obtained in 2021.
The incident occurs at a key moment for Philadelphia, which competes in the Eastern Division and fights for one of the best records in the league. The uncertainty about the return of their most reliable pitcher leaves a difficult void to fill in the rotation.
An Uncertain Future for the Phillies
"It's a significant loss. Zack is our leader on the mound," admitted a member of the coaching staff. "Now we'll have to adjust plans and rely on the team's depth while we await news of his recovery."
The Phillies have not detailed the next steps of the treatment, and his reincorporation will depend on how he evolves in the coming weeks. For now, the organization can only wait and rely on the rest of its pitching staff to maintain competitiveness in a season where October aspirations are at stake.
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