Less than 48 hours after Philadelphia Phillies fans learned that Zack Wheeler was heading to the 15-day IL with a blood clot near his right shoulder, we have another update about a procedure the perennial Cy Young contender went through on Monday.
The Phillies announced 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."
Right-handed pitcher Zack 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.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 18, 2025
Further treatment and a subsequent timeline of recovery for Wheeler is to…
We're still waiting for more details about Zack Wheeler's thrombolysis procedure and a recovery timeline
With minimal information known about Wheeler's condition, besides the few vague tidbits we had been provided since Saturday night, it was difficult to know how serious the blood clot issue was. With multiple possibilities and it was hard to know what to expect.
Now we know more about how Wheeler's condition is being treated. We still have to wait for more information about further treatment and a timeline for his recovery.
Thrombolysis, also known as thrombolytic therapy, is a procedure to dissolve blood clots. There are multiple types of this procedure, ranging from the use of medication through an IV (systemic thrombolysis) to a catheter (catheter-directed thrombolysis) to specialized tools that break up the clot (mechanical thrombectomy), per the Penn Medicine website, so we still don't know exactly what Wheeler was treated with.
More from the Penn Medicine website:
"Thrombolysis, also known as thrombolytic therapy or fibrinolytic therapy, is a treatment that dissolves blood clots to restore normal blood flow. This approach is used in emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe blood clots in the lungs or legs. Thrombolytic drugs, sometimes called clot-busting therapy, are administered through an intravenous (IV) line or directly into the blood clot through a catheter. By quickly breaking down the clot, thrombolysis can help prevent damage to tissues and organs."
Wheeler, 35, last pitched on Friday against the Washington Nationals. He went five innings, using 97 pitches in another un-Wheeler-like outing. His struggles with both command and velocity had been an ongoing concern since a complete-game one-hitter on July 6.
With a return to the field incredibly unlikely for Wheeler this season, our concern moves away from baseball and more toward thoughts of his health and well-being.