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Mets News: Zack Wheeler Has New Timetable for Return

By Nick Ziegler

Mar 9, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws against the Miami Marlins during the spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws against the Miami Marlins during the spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /
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Recent New York Mets news is about an updated timetable for the return of Zack Wheeler. When can we expect to see him in the majors?

There has been a lot of New York Mets news recently because of all the injuries that the team has suffered this season. The return of Zack Wheeler has been one of the most anticipated things for the Mets this season, and after some setbacks, it appears that we can expect to see him in the middle of August according to the New York Post.

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Originally, Wheeler was supposed to be returning from Tommy John surgery around the All-Star break, but setbacks have pushed his return back a month. With the recent news that Matt Harvey is out for the season, the Mets could have certainly used Wheeler back in the rotation, and he wishes he could be there to help them out.

“You never wish that anybody would get hurt, but them being down sort of makes me wish I could be up there to help out a little bit more and fill in for them,” Wheeler told The Post on Thursday. “I’ve already had two setbacks, so hopefully, nothing else arises,” Wheeler said to Mike Puma of The Post. “Hopefully, we just go smooth sailing from here.”

The elbow discomfort was a concern for Mets fans, but Wheeler gave insight to why he was having some issues.

“When I had that second surgery to take out that stitch, those nerve endings were rubbing over the stitch, that is why they are irritated and [Altchek] basically said it was my nerve endings again,” Wheeler said to Puma. “He just gave me a little injection to try to calm those down. He said they will eventually calm down on their own, but I’m just trying to not do a lot at once.”

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Even though he has been out, Wheeler’s name has been frequently mentioned in trade rumors both last season and this season. Last season, Wheeler was actually packaged in a deal with Wilmer Flores for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez before the trade eventually fell through.

“It’s part of the game,” Wheeler said to Puma, referring to trade rumors. “And I’ve been hurt for so long that all the fans always throw me out there because they sort of forgot. “It gives me motivation, too, when fans are saying that about me, all over my Twitter. It makes me want to work harder the next day. It might get some people down, but I use it as motivation.”

Like all Mets fans, Wheeler wants to see the Mets’ super-rotation with their five young starters all healthy. We won’t have the chance to see that this season with Harvey out, but hopefully we will be seeing it in 2017.

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“You want to because it would be a freakin’ bad rotation,” Wheeler said to Puma. “But it’s baseball. You’re not supposed to be throwing like we throw, so stuff is going to happen. Hopefully, we can all get up there and be healthy.”

With Logan Verrett currently as the Mets’ fifth starter, they will be hoping to get Wheeler back as soon as possible to strengthen their rotation.

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