The next step in Zack Wheeler’s return could be a bit more complicated than some think. Of course, we want him to be as healthy as possible, and get outs at a high level, but a lot of how he looks is simply just getting a feel for being back on the mound against live hitters.
It's also very important that his velocity is where it needs to be, as he's somebody who can blow away guys with this fastball whenever he wants.
Wheeler made his first rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in cold weather. It was possible for him to stay in Florida and get some work done, but according to the man himself, he wanted to be in game action.
“It was really my choice,” Wheeler said. “I wanted it to be more competitive at-bats in a more competitive situation. I knew it was going to be cold, but at the end of the day, this is probably where I need to be, facing hitters.”
It's not too surprising to see a competitor of his level say that he wanted to be on the mound facing real hitters instead of throwing on a backfield at the Phillies complex, but it's also good that he recognizes that if he wants to come back and pitch in Philadelphia sometime in the near future, he's likely going to have to deal with some tough weather.
Velocity-wise, he's happy with where he was and understands why some of it was down in his final inning.
“It was a tick up from what it has been,” Wheeler said. “The last inning, it was down just a hair — probably to be expected.”
Wheeler had already thrown a simulated game before this outing, but facing live hitters in a competitive setting and performing at the level he did is a very encouraging sign.
There are still a couple of steps left in the rehab process, but returning to the show should be on the table if things continue to go as planned.
I'm very happy with how he's looked and I think all Phillies fans should be.