Wheeler to miss remainder of season.

[Frayed Knot]

from mlb.com:

Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and the recommendation is to undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks. Details of the surgery are forthcoming. The timeline of recovery from the surgery is generally 6-8 months.

None of that sounds like fun. Six months puts him to early March at best. Eight and you're into May.

* didn't see this at the tail end of another thread

[metirish]

Terrible for him, I could be wrong but players rarely come back the same after this surgery?

[Frayed Knot]

I'm not sure if this surgery has been common enough for there to be kind of reliable before & after track record.

That Wheeler's odometer will likely click over to 36 (late May) before he throws an MLB game again isn't a factor in his favor.

He's signed through 2027 and either stated or strongly hinted earlier this year that he'd walk away when this contract is done.

[Edgy MD]

If this is the surgery where all or part of a rib (or more than one)? is removed, then yeah, it's hard to think of anybody who has returned to the same level afterwards.

Matt Harvey is naturally the main cautionary tale. He was rarely ever good after surgery for TOS, but for all I know, this is a completely different procedure.

[Gwreck]

Other prominent NL pitchers who were never the same after thoracic outlet syndrome: Matt Harvey; Stephen Strasburg.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to be concerned that this could end Wheeler’s career.

[metirish]

And the Yankees pitcher had a similar operation? Wang ?