Latest Zack Wheeler injury update is best possible news for Phillies originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is ready to return to the mound to help support the rest of the rotation.

The right-hander underwent thoracic outlet surgery last year, abruptly ending his 2025 season in August. Wheeler did not make an appearance in Grapefruit League games during spring training.

However, he just completed his fifth minor league rehab assignment start, and will make his debut this Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters.

“I think he's basically at the end of Spring Training,” Thomson told MLB.com's Casey Drottar about Wheeler's rehab outings. “The fastball velocity's gone up. It's not where it's gonna be, I don't believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I'm expecting on a normal day, weather-wise, that he's gonna have his command.

More: Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade

“He's really spun the ball well during all of his outings, so I feel good about him.”

Wheeler is a three-time All-Star and has finished second in NL Cy Young voting twice with the Phillies. Thomson told Drottar that he does not expect Wheeler to throw more than 90 pitches.

This is a big boost for Philadelphia's pitching staff, which ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.99 ERA.

Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar

Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career

Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade

Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece