Phillies ace Zack Wheeler placed on 15-day injured list with 'upper extremity blood clot'

Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Aug 16, 2025

Published in Baseball

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WASHINGTON — Zack Wheeler felt normal while he pitched here Friday night.

The velocity on Wheeler’s fastball returned. His shoulder, more sore than usual two starts ago, held up well. He was pleased with his mechanics. And when the Phillies decided to take him out of the game after 97 pitches, he was predictably ornery, according to manager Rob Thomson.

But by late Friday night, something felt wrong.

Wheeler called head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit and reported “a little heaviness” near his shoulder, as Buchheit described it. The Phillies consulted the Nationals’ doctors.

The diagnosis: a blood clot.

Wheeler returned to Philadelphia for testing, and after the Phillies’ 2-0 loss Saturday to the Nationals, the team placed him on the injured list with what was described as a “right upper extremity blood clot.”

The Phillies don’t have a timeline for Wheeler’s absence. He will miss at least 15 days, likely more, with further testing scheduled for the next few days.

“It’s still early on in the diagnosis,” Buchheit said. “I think we should gather more information before we put prognosis and treatment plan together.”