Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has been recognized by his fellow players as the National League Comeback Player of the Year in the annual Players Choice Awards, announced Wednesday by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Wheeler earned the distinction over fellow National League pitchers Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins and Martín Pérez of the Atlanta Braves.
The accolade follows a dominant 2025 campaign in which the 36-year-old right-hander made 28 starts, posting a 14-5 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 193 strikeouts across 162 innings. His performance marked a successful return from thoracic outlet syndrome, a severe vascular condition that has previously derailed the careers of multiple professional pitchers.
Wheeler’s previous season had been cut short in mid-August due to the discovery of a blood clot near his right shoulder, which developed when a vein became compressed between his collarbone and his first rib. To correct the issue, he underwent a surgical procedure to remove the blood clot, followed by a second operation to remove a rib and relieve the vascular compression. His recovery protocol required rigorous physical therapy alongside a strict dietary adjustment that dropped his weight to approximately 195 pounds at the end of spring training, roughly 10 pounds below his normal playing weight.
Initial concerns regarding a potential drop in fastball velocity during a minor-league rehab assignment were quickly dispelled when he hit 95 mph with the very first pitch of his return on April 25 in Atlanta. Wheeler did not miss a single scheduled start for the remainder of the season. Despite posting a strong 2.13 ERA across his first 15 appearances, he was omitted from the National League All-Star team because he pitched the Phillies’ final game before the midsummer break. Following a six-start difficult stretch in August, Wheeler finished the year in dominant fashion, going 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA over his final six outings. That strong finish included the regular-season finale, where he surrendered only one run over six innings to help secure the final National League wild-card berth for Philadelphia.
Reflecting on his return to peak effectiveness following major vascular surgery, Wheeler expressed confidence in his outlook.
“To be expected,” Wheeler remarked in September. “When you have surgery, or anything along those lines, you just have to stay positive and keep a strong mindset, you know? You believe that you’re going to come back and be the same guy, if not better, because you’ve had more time to strengthen and fine-tune everything. For me, it was just come back, hit the ground running, and just be the same guy as I was, if not better.”
Financially, Wheeler plays under a three-year, $126 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, with one season remaining on that agreement. When he originally signed the deal, he suggested that the 2027 season could mark the conclusion of his professional career. Asked whether sustained high-level performance might alter those retirement plans, Wheeler noted that his long-term future remains undecided.
“Honestly, I mean, it’s just still up in the air,” Wheeler said. “I think a lot of things have to kind of play out for me just to be able to see.”
In addition to the peer-voted MLBPA honor, Wheeler remains a candidate for Major League Baseball’s official Comeback Player of the Year award. That winner, determined by a vote of the 30 MLB.com club beat reporters, is scheduled to be announced on November 11 at the league’s annual awards show in Las Vegas.
