Phillies' Zack Wheeler Receives Major Honor After Brilliant Season

In August 2025, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler ended up sidelined due to thoracic outlet syndrome, which caused him to miss the start of the 2026 MLB campaign.

Wheeler's future was obviously in question after the scare, and when you considered the fact that he was also 36 years old, there was plenty of reason for concern.

Well, Wheeler ultimately returned in late April and ended up making 28 starts, logging a 3.00 ERA while allowing 123 hits and racking up 193 strikeouts over 162 innings of work.

Yes, the right-hander had a bit of hiccup in late July into early August, but he quickly corrected a hitch in his mechanics and regained his form.

After yet another brilliant season from Wheeler, he earned quite the honor from his peers, as he was just voted the NL Comeback Player of the Year in the Players Choice Awards.

It's truly remarkable that Wheeler is still this dominant as this stage of his career.

The wily veteran averaged 10.7 punchouts per nine innings in 2026, which was the second-best mark of his big-league tenure, which began with the New York Mets back in 2013.

Wheeler also posted a 1.049 WHIP this past season, which was better than his career median of 1.129.

The former first-round pick did not make the All-Star team this year, but he has collected three such selections throughout his time in the majors.

The Phillies acquired Wheeler in free agency back in December 2019, signing him to a five-year, $118 million contract that was viewed as very questionable at the time given his prior injury history.

Wheeler then went on to start over 30 games three times between 2021 and 2024, and outside of his health scare last summer, he has generally been very durable throughout his entire time in Philadelphia.

The Phillies handed Wheeler a three-year, $126 million extension in March 2024, a deal that now keeps him in Philly through 2027.

With Wheeler showing no signs of slowing down, you have to wonder if Dave Dombrowski will consider extending him early before he hits free agency next winter.

Wheeler is part of a dynamic rotation that also includes Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, both of whom recently received extensions from Philadelphia.

Obviously, Sanchez and Luzardo are considerably younger than Wheeler, but ensuring he remains in Philly for the long(er) haul is something the Phillies need to weigh.