While his teammates were battling the Texas Rangers in the second game of the season, 70 miles to the South, Zack Wheeler was beginning his minor league rehab assignment.
And while the Phillies ultimately came up just short in an extra inning loss, Wheeler's day was quite successful.
Wheeler threw three innings for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs against Toledo, the affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He didn't allow a run, yielded just two hits and a walk while striking out three.
Wheeler threw just 38 pitches, a few shy of what the Phillies were hoping (the target was 45-to-50). But he was super efficient, throwing 26 strikes.
His fastball topped out a hair above 94 mph, and sat in the 93 mph range, which is on par for where he would be in the first start of Spring Training in a normal year.
Wheeler told reporters, including Ty Daubert of Phillies Nation that it was his decision to pitch in minor league games as compared to continuing to throw simulated games in Clearwater to build up.
“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.”
Zack Wheeler takes the field as a member of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in his first rehab start on Saturday March, 28, 2026 (Photo: Cheryl Pursell) The IronPigs didn't miss out on a chance to promote Wheeler's appearance at Coca-Cola Park, turning Saturday night's outing into "Rehab Ribs Night," a nod to Wheeler having one of his ribs removed as part of the surgeries needed to treat his thoracic outlet syndrome last September.
All the minor league fun aside, Wheeler checked off another box. And he may only need a couple more before he comes back to the Phillies rotation.
He finished with seven swings and misses - four on his curveball.
Still, Wheeler wasn't completely thrilled for with how they felt, but the cold weather and the fact that he's still building up (he's also below his normal playing weight), has to have him at least satisfied with where he's at in the process.
Wheeler will next throw next Friday when the IronPigs take on the Durham Bulls in North Carolina. Wheeler will then pitch for the Reading Fightin' Phils the following week and what comes after that remains to be seen.
Wheeler wasn't the only Phillies pitcher who threw for Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Orion Kerkering (hamstring) had a dominant rehab inning, throwing just 10 pitches, seven for strikes at hit 97 mph on the radar gun.
Kerkering is eligible to come off the I.L. on April 7, and the Phillies would like for him to hit that target.
