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While he may not have been an official All-Star, Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler has been on a tear in 2026. Wheeler’s recent performance could have him turning his back on his original retirement plans.
The Phillies ace has stated he planned to hang up his cleats after his contract runs out in 2027. But he is at least now considering signing one more contract, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“Never say never,” Wheeler said. “We’ll see. It’ll probably depend on what happens next year. It’s something to think about for sure.”
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“It’s tough,” says Wheeler, who with his wife, Dominique, are raising four children (ages 6, 4, 2, 1). “My kids are growing up and they’re at that age where it’s important to have both parents around. I’m going to be there for that and see them grow and be successful in life. So, we’ll see.”
While the Phillies came up short 2-1, Wheeler put on another show against the Dodgers on Tuesday. The right-hander threw seven innings of five-run baseball, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out nine. Through his first 16 starts of the season, Wheeler holds a 2.16 ERA and a 117/22 K/BB ratio.
As long as he is healthy, the Phillies are expecting their ace to be a key part of any success they find through the 2027 season. But once next year is over, Philadelphia would have quite the hole in their rotation to fill if Wheeler decided to walk away.
For now, all the Phillies can focus on is going on the deepest playoff run possible in 2026. Perhaps continued postseason success would convince Wheeler to stick around a little longer.
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