Zack Wheeler Keeps Removed Rib in Home Closet

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler revealed that he has kept the rib removed during his offseason surgery, storing it in a case in his closet at home. The 35-year-old right-hander shared the unusual detail with reporters Wednesday during spring training in Clearwater, Florida, following a procedure to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome that sidelined him last season.

Wheeler's 2025 campaign ended prematurely in mid-August after he landed on the injured list with a blood clot in his upper right extremity. Diagnosed with the condition, which involves compression of nerves or blood vessels near the collarbone and first rib, he first underwent thrombolysis in late August at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia to remove the clot. Weeks later, in September, he had thoracic outlet decompression surgery in St. Louis, where surgeons removed his first rib and surrounding scar tissue to relieve pressure on the affected area.

The rib, preserved by Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit to prevent decay, was returned to Wheeler shortly after the procedure. "Paul preserved it for me," Wheeler said. "He had to do a bunch of stuff to it so it doesn't decay. I...