Zack Wheeler will get a shot at revenge in Game 1 of the NLDS when his Philadelphia Phillies play host to the New York Mets. Adding some fuel to the fire - besides being his former team - is one of the most ridiculous stories ever shared in which the Mets once denied Wheeler, who was on the team, tickets to attend a playoff game while he was injured.
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Wheeler, one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB since joining the Phillies in 2020, had undergone Tommy John surgery in 2015. That operation (and an eventual setback) sidelined him for two seasons.
During that first season, when he was unavailable to play, the Mets advanced to the World Series. Wheeler was away from the team for his recovery. That's typical for athletes fighting back from an injury of that nature. He wasn't invited to attend any of the playoff games (odd), so he inquired.
Zack Wheeler spent his first five years with the Mets, compiling a 44-38 record in that span before moving to Philly (@WheelerPro45)
According to a book by Mike Puma called "If These Walls Could Talk: New York Mets," Wheeler told the author that he asked if he could join the team during their playoff run. The Mets, who were then owned by the Wilpons, said no.
Wheeler even went as far as asking if they could give him seats anywhere in the stands. He just wanted to take in the environment. The Mets reportedly said, "You have to buy your own." Wheeler had zero interest in buying tickets to see his own team play.
It's all a wild story, and if any of it is as valid as the book claims, it shows how poorly run the Mets organization was before Steve Cohen took over.
Either way, it makes for a great sidebar as the Phillies and Mets meet for the first time ever in the postseason.
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