Zack Wheeler felt ‘more in sync’ while throwing his first live batting practice

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Zack Wheeler is one step closer.

The Phillies’ right-hander checked off the next box in his rehab process with a live batting practice session on Saturday morning. With coaches, a few teammates, and a small crowd of fans looking on at BayCare Ballpark, Wheeler faced hitters for the first time since Aug. 15.

That had been Wheeler’s last start before a blood clot was identified in his upper right arm, which was followed by a season-ending diagnosis of venous thoracic outlet syndrome. After undergoing surgery on Sept. 23, Wheeler has been steadily reaching milestones in the rehab process, starting with throwing on flat ground, then bullpen sessions, and now facing hitters.

Wheeler was pleased with how things went on Saturday. He threw around 20 pitches, mixing in everything in his arsenal other than his slider, which is a pitch he seldom uses in general. He faced Otto Kemp, Rafael Marchán, and Garrett Stubbs.

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“Felt a little bit more in sync,” Wheeler said. “I thought that might happen, just facing hitters instead of just throwing bullpens. In the bullpens, I was just a little off sync and just trying to fight the timing and all that type of stuff.

“So I was hoping once I faced some hitters, that it would kind of sync up and everything seemed like it did. So I’m happy with today, getting through it healthy, and actually accomplishing what I was looking to do.”

Wheeler said he was told his fastball velocity was in the range of 93 mph, which is higher than it has been in his bullpen sessions. He expects it to continue to rise as he continues to build up.

Last season, Wheeler’s fastball averaged 95.9 mph.

“Just look forward to the next one, and try to crisp it up a little bit more, trying to get the velo up just a tick more,” he said. “Just look for each time out with the velo, maybe just a tick higher. That’s usually how it goes during spring.”

The next step is likely an “up-down” live batting practice session.

Several teammates, including the other members of the Phillies rotation who are currently in camp — Jesús Luzardo, Andrew Painter, and Taijuan Walker — watched Wheeler from the dugout. He received applause from the few fans in attendance when he struck out Stubbs and Marchán, as well as when he walked off the mound.

“Awesome. Just good seeing him compete again,” said Orion Kerkering. “And just seeing the excitement back in his face — even though there’s not really much you can see — but you can just tell there’s some excitement in it.”

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Kerkering also threw a live batting practice session Saturday following Wheeler, which was his second of the spring after his ramp up was delayed by a mild hamstring strain. He expects to get into his first Grapefruit League game on Tuesday.

If all goes well, Kerkering thinks he has enough time to be ready for Opening Day. He hopes to pitch in three games before camp ends.

“I think it’s a good possibility,” he said. “I think it’s just all up in the air. If I come out healthy. I think if the command’s there, pitch shapes are there, I think that’s what’s most important.”

He continued to test out his new splitter, which he started to develop over the winter. In his first live session on Tuesday, Kerkering was looking for hitters’ perspectives on whether they could pick up his grip before he released the ball. He got positive feedback from Marchán that he wasn’t tipping the pitch.

“It’s really good,” Marchán said. “Adding something new to the old pitches that he has is going to help him a lot. I saw a couple that he threw to me, and it looked really good.”

On Saturday, Kerkering thought the splitter was missing below the zone too much. But he’s still optimistic it could turn into a weapon for him against left-handed hitters.

“I think it’s still a good pitch,” he said. “Still a work in progress with it.”

The Phillies optioned right-hander Alan Rangel to triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Keaton Anthony, who broke his toe after fouling a ball off his foot on Monday, was reassigned to minor league camp.