The Philadelphia Phillies were dealt some brutal news last season when ace Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and was forced to get surgery, missing the rest of the season.
Fortunately, Wheeler’s surgery went well, and he’s in line to play for the Phillies this season, and potentially sooner rather than later.
Wheeler, for the first time since his surgery, shared how he was feeling with reporters. But, as Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer shares, the Phillies ace revealed that he is keeping the rib that was removed during his surgery in his closet at home.
Zack Wheeler is keeping his rib removed for surgery in his home closet
“Zack Wheeler kept the rib that was removed as part of the thoracic outlet surgery, and it’s sitting in a closet in his house,” March shared.
This is certainly an interesting decision from Wheeler. It’s not incredibly uncommon for people to do something similar, but it doesn’t change how weird it sounds on paper.
Wheeler is keeping the rib that was removed as part of his thoracic outlet surgery in his closet at home. Having his rib removed isn’t uncommon as part of this surgery, but Wheeler keeping it is most likely not something everyone who has this surgery does.
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The Phillies ace is gearing up for the regular season, and while he’s not going to be ready for Opening Day, the recovery from his surgery is going well, and he should return this season in the first half of the year.
The beloved Phillies ace has two more years left on his contract, and after a strong 2025 with a 2.71 ERA and 5.0 bWAR in 24 starts, he’ll look to get back on track coming off surgery that forced him to remove a rib.
While he might have lost a rib as part of this surgery, that rib is still with Wheeler, just instead of being a part of him, it’s sitting in his closet at home.
