The Phillies announced Wednesday that righty Zack Wheeler underwent a “right middle fingernail resection procedure” last week. He’s expected to be ready to go in time for Spring Training.
The minor surgical procedure was performed not only in hopes of repairing a fluky late-season injury in which Wheeler almost lost his middle fingernail completely after catching it on a zipper, but to correct some chronic issues with the nail. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Corey Seidman notes that Wheeler has had minor issues with that nail dating back to high school. Cracked nails certainly don’t sound like a major issue, of course, but such maladies can impact a pitcher’s ability to grip the ball — particularly on breaking pitches.
If the fingernail was a major impediment for Wheeler this season, it certainly didn’t show in his results. The 30-year-old right-hander, who signed a five-year deal worth $118MM last offseason, made 11 starts for the Phils and racked up 71 innings with a 2.92 ERA, 3.22 FIP and career-best 55.9 percent ground-ball rate. Wheeler’s strikeout rate dipped, though that was due largely to his incorporation of a sinker/two-seamer that dramatically improved his ground-ball rate.
There was some concern late in the season that the aforementioned freak injury might cause Wheeler to lose his entire fingernail and possibly end his season. He rallied and returned to the mound to give the Phils three more solid starts down the stretch, however, allowing nine runs on 19 hits and seven walks with 17 strikeouts through 21 frames after that point. Wheeler is still owed $96.5MM over the final four seasons of his contract in Philadelphia.
hmm that makes sense now
Better his fingernail getting caught than his “frank and beans”!
I was thinking the same thing!
Reminds me of the time the Captain came back into the office and said he just caught “it” in the zipper. I said, “I didn’t know you went interested in botany.” “Botany???” “Yes,” I replied, “weren’t you describing a penis fly trap?”
This is a way to drawn out way of saying that he clipped his fingernail lol.
I kid, I kid… In fact, that sounds incredibly painful.
Reminds me of Sammy Sosa throwing his back out in 2004 with a powerful sneeze.
There needs to be some sort of MLB spin doctor that changes these stories.
“Zach Wheeler caught a woman jumping out of a burning building and in the process smashed his middle finger. ”
Much better…
“Yoenis Cespedes injured his ankle Tuesday evening as he was chasing down the man who trespassed onto his ranch.”
Yoenis Cespedes stories dont need spin. they’re gold on their own.
That’s true.
I think that we already are getting the stories with spin on them.
“Zach Wheeler caught a woman jumping out of a burning building and in the process smashed his middle finger. ”
——————————————————-
Sometimes the real story is better than the enhancements. Losing a finger in a zipper accident is a tale that will live forever in Philly phoklore.
If successful,will this be known as “Zach Wheeler” surgery going forward?
Good call.
Not if CeyHey has anything to say about it!
Does he have to stick his middle finger up now to show the umpire?
New contract clause: button-fly pants only. Maybe Jerry was right about zippers.
I lost one fingernail ,since grown back, almost 50 years ago. It never grew back 100% like my others. I have another that I almost split in half about 12 years ago that occasionally will retare. It is a royal pain
In other words, he got a manicure..
Losing a whole fingernail via zipper? No idea how that even happens, very impressive freaky injury.
Who’s to say it was his own zipper? Perhaps he let his fingers do the walking and shop got closed up a little early on him…this is a rumor site after all and he does play for Philly too. #zippergate
Do not Google Image search.
My question is, Who’s zipper. NAILED IT!
And was it stinky.
Fingernail problems?!!? What a fairy! Bite your fingernails like an old school pitcher, it will put hair on your chest.
That will teach him to play with his fly.
Gotta go old school. Spit on it, rub a little dirt on it, then suck it up, grit your teeth and get back in the game. That’s what Sal Maglie would have done. And, oh yeah, he would have buzzed the tower with his next pitch for no other reason than he was just pissed off.
Fingernail surgery? C’mon, man. We’re raising a generation of wimps.
If you ever need surgery, get a quote from the doctor and let me know. I’ll do it for half price… I’ll give you a bite stick and some Jack Daniels and I’ll take care of it in the garage.
Sounds a lot like the stupid crap that would only happen to a Mets player. Guess it’s still in his blood lol
Kenny Lofton baby
At one point, the article states he lost his entire fingernail, and another part states they feared he would lose his entire fingernail. Which is it?