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Zack Wheeler Debuts With Mid‑90s Heat as Phillies End 10‑Game Skid

His strong velocity after thoracic outlet surgery suggests a viable path back to top‑tier form.

Overview

  • Wheeler, who returned Saturday in Atlanta after 253 days out, worked five innings and left with a 3-2 lead.
  • His fastball sat in the mid-90s and reached 96.5 mph, and he struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. twice in six total punchouts.
  • A taxing fourth inning brought two walks and two runs across 36 pitches, yet he escaped with back-to-back strikeouts and then logged a clean fifth.
  • Philadelphia won 8-5 in 10 innings to halt a 10-game losing streak, with late two-run singles from Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh.
  • He underwent thoracic outlet decompression in September for a blood clot and, after five lower-velo rehab starts, returned with the mid-90s speed manager Rob Thomson expected to build.