August 18: The Phils announced today that Wheeler “underwent a successful thrombolysis procedure to remove a blood clot in his right upper extremity this morning by Dr. Paul DiMuzio at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Further treatment and a subsequent timeline of recovery for Wheeler is to be determined.”
August 16: The Phillies announced that Zack Wheeler has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right upper extremity blood clot. According to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, the clot is near his throwing shoulder. The team has not announced a timetable for his return.
Philadelphia will activate Aaron Nola from the 60-day IL tomorrow. He’s listed as the probable starter for their series finale in Washington. They initially intended to go with a six-man rotation. Instead, Nola will take Wheeler’s spot in a five-man staff that also includes Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and Taijuan Walker. They’ll still need to open a 40-man roster spot for Nola and make an active roster transaction to clear space for Alec Bohm, who is expected back from a 10-day IL stint tomorrow.
The immediate roster considerations take a back seat to concern about Wheeler’s future. The Phils should be able to withstand a short-term absence, at least with regard to the division. They’ve built a five-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. Their hold on the #2 seed in the National League and the associated first-round bye is tenuous. They’re only half a game up on the Dodgers and Padres, who enter play Saturday night tied for the NL West lead. (San Diego and L.A. are playing one another, so one of them will tie Philly this evening.) The scorching hot Brewers have pulled well ahead of the pack for the NL’s top seed.
If this requires a longer-term absence, it’d obviously be a massive blow. Wheeler remains on the short list for the title of MLB’s best pitcher. He has a 2.71 earned run average and leads the majors with 195 strikeouts. He’s averaging more than six innings per start. This will probably be Wheeler’s second consecutive sub-3.00 ERA showing and his fifth time allowing fewer than three earned runs per nine over his six seasons in Philadelphia. Wheeler has been exceptionally durable. This is just his second IL stint as a Phillie, with the other being a month-long absence due to forearm tendinitis in 2022.
A healthy Wheeler would be Philadelphia’s Game 1 starter. There’s no indication that the team is concerned about his playoff availability, but a blood clot comes with a level of uncertainty. The Phillies will presumably provide more specifics in the next few days.
AND NOBODY BOTHERED TO MAYBE RUN SOME MORE TESTS EARLIER?
“And nobody bothered”..Yes. Let’s rip somebody..anybody really a mere 5 minutes after the story breaks and only scant details are even known.
Why do some people need someone or something to demonize all 7 days of the week.
They ran a MRI 10 days ago. He’s obviously looked off for probably close to a month now. Yet they continued to insist that nothing was wrong. Why skip a start? Why throw him on the IL out of precaution. No. They had him take two more starts where he predictably continued to not look like himself. He made two starts after a MRI with a blood clot in his shoulder. I’m sorry, that’s malpractice. And obviously it was on a lower key, but they did a similar song and dance in saying Harper wasn’t injured earlier on in the year, and then suddenly he’s out for a month.
Hey smarty pants, you need an ultrasound to see a blood clot, can’t see it on MRI. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Really bad take. Wheeler was still throwing 96-97 with movement, just couldn’t locate, both before and after coming off 10 days rest. MRI shows nothing. Seems to me you are dismissed.
I am unsure whether to make a “Bloodclot!” or “Dopplers for everybody!”
joke.
Thank goofus for Doctor Doofus
Doofus, MRIs do detect blood clots.
Ummm…MRIs don’t pick up blood clots.
As someone who almost died from blood clots in 2004, I can verify this. It was an ultrasound that found mine.
Who would’ve thought a rando would know better than trained professionals treating another professional who has made over $170M? And you’re offering your big brain expertise all for free?
You don’t have to be a doctor to be aware of the typical type of diagnostic exam to get a better idea of blood flow.
Typically, an MRI will not be how a definitive Dx is done for most clots. It will show something, but for definitive Dx
That is not malpractice. Had it been misdiagnosed, ignored, and then led to further injury that could possibly be malpractice. Assuming it was something that should have clearly been looked for based on his symptoms.
Often people go to Dr’s and do not get an answer right away, that does not equal neglect. Some even go to Dr’s and never get a diagnosis, that to does not equal malpractice.
By now, you know about ultrasounds. Also, it ain’t a big deal. Some blood thinners will have him back for the playoffs. Unless, this is a precursor for cancer….
@Jerry….blood clots are serious because of what could happen if they become dislodged. Obviously it depends on size and location within a blood vessel, but even clots in lower legs are serious.
Wheeler’s is his arm. The location alone makes it more serious, but obviously not that simple. Hope he gets it resolved in the best way.
You seem to be the only person who thinks it “ain’t a big deal,” Doc. I’m so glad we have your brilliant medical mind around to assuage our concerns.
Well, when you’ve had one before….
And it wasn’t a big deal. The only concern is avoiding cuts while on the thinners. Might be a problem if he gets hit by a comebacker….
@Jerry….I think you may find a book on philosophy-specifically critical reasoning-to be helpful in an all around way.
Blood clots are only a problem if left untreated. Seriously….
And you wanna know how this went down? Wheeler went to the ER. Got the ultrasound. Then, the doctor wrote him a prescription for Xarelto and sent him home….
Then, he’ll see an oncologist and have his blood tested every couple months….
I asked my wife who’s actually a doctor about this and there are multiple factors to consider, and the first is whether it’s a superficial clot or a deep vein clot/thrombosis. Most DVTs involve legs, so it’s a possibility Wheeler’s is superficial clot. This would obviously be the best case scenario. Blood thinners are usually prescribed for DVTs, but the Phillies medical staff will do what they think is best. Diagnosing the cause of the clot will be their job one.
I wonder what a blood clot in the arm even feels like? Can anybody tell when they have a blood clot? Do you think this blood clot was only discovered because they were checking for something else? Seems pretty scary. I don’t think there is any such thing as having a benign blood clot. And I’m sure you can’t really feel them , so they only get discovered by happenstance or when it’s too late. This post has given me anxiety.
I wish my wife was a doctor. (Actually I don’t have a wife.) You did well son!!!
Ha ha. I don’t think you can feel them. Until they break off, travel to a small vessel somewhere and block off the blood to the part of the body it’s meant to be supplying. Then bad stuff happens as the tissue dies. Strokes and the like.
Incorrect
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Always looking for someone to blame seems to be the trend in America… wonder where we got that from… or perhaps our leader is just reflecting what is already true in America
Whatever happened to take responsibility for your own actions ?
I’m going to give this comment a 10 out of 10 because we are friends now and peace is overrated.
@jimmy ray hart,
Personal responsibility was once a core element of conservatism.
Losing Wheeler is a big loss. But I don’t know how you think there is someone to blame here.
Also, if we were going to deal with a big loss from one area of the team this year — for as great as Wheeler is (and that goes even moreso for the playoffs) — subtracting from the starting rotation as Aaron Nola is set to return is about the best “back-up” option we’d have when it comes to replacing Harper, Schwarber, or Turner were any of them to be lost for the season.
And yeah, the addition of Duran is also a big reason as to why I’m going to keep it positive on my end. Hopefully Nola is really healthy and has himself focused.
When you are young, ignorant, and arrogant you definitely want to scream it to the world.
Looks like you just let everyone know these things about yourself. Congratulations?
Great advice. Now get your magic time machine out for his doctors. After you arrange for that maybe you could go back in time and stop your parents from meeting.
Ruh roh. What’s it mean mlbtr docs?
IT AINT GOT NO GAS IN IT.
Cancer mixed with STDs all thanks to steroids. Sharing needles with Harper, etc. Its a grim world
A+ post, Delgado
I thought Delgado was speculating on Soto first’s possible issues. Maybe I misread it.
Basically there is a strand of blood thats solidified within one of the veins of his throwing arm. If the strand were to break off, that clot would circulate through the heart and get pumped straight to the lungs or brain causing stroke or a pulmonary embolism
blood clots can be 100% deadly. killed my brother..age 36
Sorry to hear that.
Yes….you need to be super careful…i did not realize how serious they were …i know a few people in my life too…that had this
That’s awful, sorry for your loss
Same happened to my dad. Doctor blamed the COVID vaccine (really the boosters). Turned into multiple clots and thrombosis. 20 surgeries and then gone. Clots are no joke.
That’s really sad he was having his best or 2nd best season and had a shot at the cy young
Wishing Wheeler the best. I hate to hear any player is facing serious health issues.
Yes, I have no medical training but I know blood clots are very dangerous.
That scary. I hope they can get rid of the clot. I’m glad they were able to catch it.
That stinks for him. It explains lot though There goes the season. No chance he comes back this year but hopefully he recovers for next season
Damn- good luck to Zack and his family.
Not good. I think Jamie Moyer had something like this post sports hernia that developed complications that included an infection.
Lots of blood clots these days. Scary stuff. All the best to Mr. Wheeler!
Tuna-Yup. Wonder what events led up to them. /s
Even as a Braves fan I feel for this guy who seems to have the Cy elude him every year. At least it’s not because of a Gagne-like result (elite closer with help), but still. Only getting older and he’s been the most consistent pitcher of this decade. Hope he can get back on the horse and finish as a finalist a few more times…while somehow taking a L in every game he’s opposing ATL.
I think you meant why not skip a start and why not go on the IL.
Wow, that’s horrible news. I really hope he’s going to be ok. Wheels was great for my Mets and great for baseball.
This is real serious, I know he discuss retiring after this contract ends, I wonder now if he will reconsider and may walk away earlier now. Family comes before baseball. He’ll more than likely be on blood thinners after surgery, then there is rehabbing the shoulder, this is worse than a TJ recovery. Hoping for a solid health recovery for Zack Wheeler. Prayers to him and his family.
Chris Bosh did it for this reason.
No surgery needed. Just blood thinners. Once you feel the tightness, you gotta go to the doctor and get it diagnosed before it travels to your lungs and kills you. Lots of people mistakenly just think it’s a pulled muscle and think it’ll go away….
That’s scary stuff. I’m old enough to remember JR Richard. At least medical treatment should be better now than it was 45 years ago.
He was such a great pitcher, and a sure-fire Hall of Famer if not for his career being cut short.
thanks guys. appreciate it 🙏
This is no small matter about Wheeler. This could involve surgery to physically remove the clot and/or dissolving the clot by injecting medication through a catheter, plus anticoagulation. He could be out a while, and if he’s on anticoagulants, he’ll have to exert a whole different level of caution when he pitches.
Duran bears more watching before everyone starts forgetting about yesterday’s line drive to the right ankle. He has to push off that ankle when he throws, and even if he just sustained a minor bone and/or muscle contusion which will completely heal with time, his velocity and control could be adversely affected for a while. There’s also the possibility of aggravating the injury and converting it into something worse, like a fracture. I get very concerned when I see a pitcher throwing 100+ mph with most pitches, like Duran has. The human arm can only do so much, and more often than not, that kind of stress on the arm can lead to shoulder or elbow damage that requires surgery and prolonged rehab.
162 games is a long season. A lot is going to change for all the playoff-bound teams before the playoffs begin. Having the two top records in either league may not be a good thing. Teams that drew byes for the first wild card round haven’t done well in recent years.
All it could take is for an ace to get injured or a slugger to get hit by a pitch in the wrong place for the playoff picture to change on a dime.
What ever team is healthy and has momentum going into the playoffs usually has a better chance than a team that has cruised there for most of the season..
Diamondbacks went on a run.
Rangers too.
I agree with this view. Ya never know. Gotta get in, even just barely.
This is so serious let’s hope for a 2026 worry free return.
therealman, If the news about his condition is accurate, and nothing else is being hidden, your return window may be realistic.
What’s the treatment for a blood clot? Pills like blood thinners? Or something more invasive?
kyle,
The initial treatment will probably be surgical removal of the clot, and/or insertion of a catheter and infusion of clot-dissolving medications, either followed by aggressive anticoagulation for a prolonged period of time. Considering he’s a professional athlete and otherwise in good health, the treatment plan will undoubtedly be aggressive.
Wheeler is a class act. I hope and pray, he’ll be able to get past this.
Surgery is rare for blood clots in arm. If anything beyond blood thinners and clot-disolving medication, it would likely be just a catheter more directly administering the anti-clotting medication.
Surgeries also increase risk of clotting, so unless absolutely necessary the cure is also a risk factor for the condition.
Not to mention scar tissue, which happens with surgery and is a detriment which often causes scar tissue and limits movement. With all the tendons and ligaments in an arm the less surgeries also pitcher has the better.
tiger, Everything depends on where the clot is. If they feel they can safely remove it surgically, they probably will because time may be of the essence here. If the clot is relatively inaccessible, they may not.
His doctors to this point have undoubtedly already started him on anticoagulants pending further evaluation, but traditional oral anticoagulants like Eliquis and Coumadin, or injectable ones like Lovenox, don’t dissolve clots immediately, like many people believe. They can take a lot of time to work, and time may be critical here.
The other issue is reversing the effects of anticoagulants prior to surgery. This can also take some time, and the surgeons may not want to gamble with even a day or two off anticoagulants before they perform any kind of surgery. This may move them to quicker than later surgery.
They could of course try IV thrombolytic / fibrinolytic therapy which could dissolve clots much faster, but such therapy is not without risks, or always 100% effective. This may be their first line approach if they feel they have the time to do it. If it doesn’t work, surgery may be their immediate backup plan.
There is always risks of potential post-operative clot formation, as well as scar tissue, but I’m sure who ever performs vascular surgery on top professional athletes has a proven track record, which includes avoidance of surgical complications and/or ability to expeditiously treat any such complications.
I’m sure Wheeler will get the best care available, and they will not waste any time designing an effective treatment plan, which includes backup plans.
Get well, Zack. You’re in all our thoughts and prayers.
And as always, may God bless the dedicated health care professionals who spend their entire professional lives having the answers to difficult questions and fortitude to take the risks necessary to save life and limb. Most of these heroes never have their work brought to public attention, but labor nonetheless to save celebrities and everyday people.
If it is located in and blocking an artery they’d have already had surgery and nobody would be here speculating. That said I wouldn’t be surprised if they use a catheter to expedite the process. I doubt that anything more invasive than that will be done.
I absolutely agree on the health care workers. Them all first responders, and teachers are by and large woefully underpaid and under celebrated.
tig, The use of IV thrombolytic / fibrinolytic therapy is through an ultrasonically-guided catheter, although other imaging modalities could be used.
As I said in the post you are commenting on:
“They could of course try IV thrombolytic / fibrinolytic therapy which could dissolve clots much faster, but such therapy is not without risks, or always 100% effective. This may be their first line approach if they feel they have the time to do it. If it doesn’t work, surgery may be their immediate backup plan.”
Hopefully, the thrombolysis they performed today will be the first step toward a speedy and lasting recovery.
Get well, Zack. Everyone is pulling for you. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m sorry if it was already stated; but how would a person know they have a blood clot in their shoulder, athlete or not? Was this fortuitously found while he was undergoing tests for other things, or is there enough physical discomfort to be able to tell something dire is wrong ?? Thanx
@Ignorant Im assuming if its clotted to the point its not.moving and intervention necessary that it leads to discomfort, numbness, and/or pain. Not certain but it seems that would be the case.
My father had bypass surgery around 50. Over the next 20 some years he had multiple stents. He eventually got to the point he could tell a blockage was starting by feeling in hands and feet. A clot is essentially the doing the same just not plaque causing the restriction of blood flow.
Ig, the symptoms usually include swelling, pain, skin discoloration, and / or a sensation of arm fatigue or heaviness, which is what Wheeler experienced for several days before he was diagnosed.
The good news is that this should clear up my October
Long live football.
You know see his last two starts he was off and they let him pitch
The clot could have come after he pitched.
Was there anything in particular that caused it? Did he get by a line drive in the shoulder in one of his recent starts?
It just happens from the motion of pitching. The exact thing happened to David Cone back in the day, It’s scary, but luckily they caught it before it traveled anywhere.
I’m a Braves fan, but this is life impacting and I hope he recovers fully. But is cleared to throw in November ( kidding, kind of) i don’t want this to be a serious thing though for real.
Sucks but this a bigger than baseball thing. Blood clots will kill ya. Just get healthy.
fan, The important thing here is Zack Wheeler’s health. Everything else is secondary.
That’s what I said?
fan, Just reiterating your profound observation!
There goes the Cy Young.
Blood clots can be tricky business. Hoping he’ll be OK moving forward
Iirc woody Williams had a similar malady. He should be fine since it was found. Blood thinners, maybe vascular surgery to pick it out. Even drip some tPA on it like they can do now with certain ischemic strokes.
Likely done for season and post season.
Initial treatment involves blood thinners to hope the clot dissolves naturally. That’s the best case scenario. Sometimes, it’s surgery. Wishing Wheeler the best. Clots are scary. This is a major blow to the Phillies, but whatever. This is beyond baseball. Hope Wheeler is all good.
Loved Wheeler on my Mets and still miss him as “the one that got away” during the Wilpons tenure.
Mets and Phillies fans alike wish him and his family a healthy and speedy recovery.
Same thing that happened to giants pitcher last season Beck. If anyone is interested in a timeline. Sucks he was out for quite awhile, glad he’s back and healthy that’s the most important.
Hope he’s able to recover fully.
Hope for nothing but the best for Wheeler. I always enjoy watching him pitch. I am a Braves fan, and it is always a good pitching duel when he squares off with us. I know these kind of things are super serious. Prayers to him and his family.
He likely has thoracic outset syndrome with vein compressed between first rib and muscle. He likely has Paget-Schroetter syndrome. This syndrome specifically refers to the effort-induced thrombosis of the axillary and subclavian veins, often occurring due to compression at the thoracic outlet. He will need surgery. His season is likely over.
Diagnosis is now confirmed and need for surgery is confirmed . Advised you of this many days ago on this forum. Let’s see if he recovers from this. Only a few pitchers have ever come back from this surgery AND remained effective. Most became ineffective because the first rib
And muscle are resected in the anatomy is changed, and some people lose their feel for the ball. Best of luck to him.
I had a blood clot in my spleen and the treatment was blood thinners. No surgery. I was in afib and it caused a clot. It damaged my spleen permanently. It was pretty painful though so I am wondering how that would be in a shoulder or arm.
As a Nats fan, I naturally dislike the Phillies, but nobody wants or likes to see a player be injured. Least of all with a potentially life (or career) threatening injury like this.
I really hope they caught this problem early enough for it to be alleviated with medication rather than surgery. Even more, I hope the team doctors can determine what caused the blood clots and the best way to fix the underlying cause so Wheeler doesn’t have to deal with them as an ongoing problem throught the rest of his life.
Global mortality from VTE is substantial, with an estimated 9–32 deaths per 100,000 people, though geographic variations and methodology differences can influence these numbers.
Individuals who experience a VTE face significant immediate and long-term risk—with around 1 in 10 dying within 30 days of diagnosis, and around 1 in 4 within a year.
– Thoughts and prayers to Wheeler…
This could be career ending depending on what caused it. Just about the worst news imaginable, short of something life threatening.
He should definitely quit smoking.(fastballs)
And make sure he’s not pregnant. Pregnancy can increase the risk of blood clots…… Shoulda hired the Superfife……
Get well soon…Maybe see you in the World Series!….soon!
Blood clots aren’t good, I hope he gets better
And here I thought Aaron Nola was retired already.
Thank goodness he will survive!
Did this not happen to a guy on the Giants not that long ago? I seem to recall he was out awhile and they were very gentle with him on his return.
I guess you are thinking of Beck who had an aneurysm. Different.
some things transcend baseball. I hope he is okay for his and his family’s sake.
I hope Wheeler recovers fully and quickly. Scary situation.
By the way, the COVID vaccine does NOT cause blood clots.
Did you just wake up from a coma ?
FYI. The pandemic was 5 years ago.
But there’s still claims that the vaccines cause health problems. The J & J vaccine did, but not all of them. I took the Moderna vaccine and I did fine.
A rare condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), characterized by blood clots and low platelet counts, was linked to the adenovirus-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.
Due to this risk, the J&J vaccine is no longer available in the United States.
I wish him all the best. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect him back this season, which is appropriate. Get well soon !