Zack Wheeler’s upcoming minor league rehabilitation appearance lends a fresh interpretation to the expression “ribbing.”
The star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies was sidelined for the latter portion of the 2025 season, having undergone an operation to excise a blood clot from his throwing shoulder after a diagnosis of venous thoracic outlet syndrome. This surgical procedure necessitated the extraction of a rib, a bone Wheeler subsequently opted to retain in a closet at his residence.
Consequently, for his rehabilitation appearance on Saturday with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the club is set to provide an unlimited supply of “Rehab Ribs” as a special item on their match-day menu.
We pulled some ribs out of the closet 👀
Ticket link: https://t.co/LP1KnaPNQb #ironpigs #cocacolapark #ribs pic.twitter.com/1AW1s4wqXH— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) March 25, 2026
Among minor league marketing endeavors, this particular initiative certainly distinguishes itself with its ingenuity.