Brandon Woodruff

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Builds up to two innings

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) threw two innings in a minor-league spring game Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Manager Pat Murphy said the 32-year-old righty's fastball reached 95 mph Friday -- a tick up from the 94 mph he achieved during his one-inning Cactus League appearance March 10. The plan is for Woodruff to travel with the team to New York for its first regular-season series and throw an extended bullpen session. After that, he'll head back to Milwaukee to play in a sim game before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Cactus League debut scheduled

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) will pitch in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Woodruff was able to pitch in a minor-league game Tuesday -- his first taste of game action since undergoing surgery on his shoulder in October 2023. He touched 94 mph with his fastball and left his outing feeling encouraged despite giving up three runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Sticking true to a traditional four-day rest schedule, he's set to last at least one inning against the Guardians on Sunday. He'll then gradually build up his workload during the remainder of the Brewers' Cactus League schedule followed by a rehab assignment at one of Milwaukee's minor-league affiliates.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Minor-league game on tap next week

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Woodruff has been throwing live batting practice sessions and is nearly ready to test things out in a game setting. The Brewers have the veteran right-hander on a schedule of pitching every six days as he works his way back from right shoulder surgery. Woodruff has already been ruled out for Opening Day and it's not clear when he might be ready for his season debut, but reports on him this spring have been positive.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Getting stretched out in live BP

  Rotowire Feb 28, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) expects to pitch multiple "innings" during his next live batting practice session, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Woodruff had a third live batting practice session Thursday which consisted of 30 pitches, and the right-hander was pleased with how it went. He will continue to build up, albeit slowly, as he works his way back from right shoulder surgery. Woodruff has already been ruled out for Opening Day, but a timeline for his season debut remains murky.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws third sim game

  Rotowire Feb 27, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) threw a simulated game consisting of about 30 pitches Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports. Woodruff has now faced hitters on three occasions this spring and has built his workload up from around 20 pitches to 30. While Woodruff is being treated as a full participant in spring training, he's still being ramped up slowly following his October 2023 shoulder surgery and is not being viewed as a realistic candidate for the Opening Day rotation. Following his second sim game this past Friday, Woodruff told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com that his fastball was touching 92 miles per hour, which is about three ticks below his average velocity from his last healthy season in 2023. Woodruff could need to complete another sim game or two before the Brewers potentially make room for him in the Cactus League pitching schedule.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Unlikely to be ready Opening Day

  Rotowire Feb 5, 2025

  Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated in a recent interview that he does not expect Woodruff (shoulder) to be ready by Opening Day, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Woodruff underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. His rehab had to be paused in August when he wasn't progressing as hoped, and while things have gone well with his recovery since then, he will be behind at the start of camp. A clearer timetable for when Woodruff will be ready for his season debut could be available at some point during spring training.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throwing bullpens twice per week

  Rotowire Jan 7, 2025

  Woodruff (shoulder) said Monday he's in a "really, really good spot" but is not sure he'll be ready for Opening Day, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Recovering from October 2023 surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Woodruff began throwing off a mound in August and had been slated to face hitters in late September, but he wasn't physically ready so the pace of his rehab was slowed. However, the righty appears to have made significant progress since then and is throwing bullpen sessions twice per week. The next steps are for Woodruff to throw simulated innings and then face hitters. Next week, he will travel to the Brewers' pitching lab in Phoenix to get a status report on his stuff. While Woodruff is preparing to be ready by Opening Day, he's not able to say whether he'll reach that goal since he has many things to still check off his rehab to-do list. A clearer picture on the righty's timetable should be available during spring training.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Opening Day not a given

  Rotowire Dec 9, 2024

  Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Monday that it's "hard to say at the moment" whether Woodruff (shoulder) will be part of the team's Opening Day rotation, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Arnold added of Woodruff that the team will be "cautious with him and his health," indicating that while the expectation is to have him in the rotation at some point next season, it's no guarantee it will be as soon as Opening Day. Woodruff underwent surgery last October to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder and began throwing off a mound in late August.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws bullpen session

  Rotowire Aug 29, 2024

  Woodruff (shoulder) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. It's the first time the veteran right-hander has throw from the bump since he underwent shoulder surgery last October. Woodruff is scheduled for another bullpen session on Friday or Saturday as he slowly ramps up his throwing program. He won't be available in 2024 even if the Brewers make a deep postseason run, but the hope is that Woodruff will be ready to go for spring training.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Rules self out for 2024

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2024

  Woodruff (shoulder) confirmed Saturday that he won't pitch during the 2024 season but expects to return to full strength for 2025, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "Honestly, I'm going [to] be the strongest I'll ever be at any point in my career because I'm going [to] have a year and just basically get my body ready for pitching," Woodruff said. The Brewers non-tendered Woodruff in November, about a month after he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He reunited with Milwaukee in February on a two-year, $7.5 million deal, with both parties recognizing that the 2024 portion of the contract would be dedicated to rehab and recovery. Since having surgery in the fall, Woodruff seems to be encouraged with where he stands five months later. He's already started playing catch again and could advance to throwing off a mound at some point during the summer. Milwaukee placed Woodruff on the 60-day injured list Feb. 21, and he'll remain off the 40-man roster for the entire season before being reinstated.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Shifts to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Feb 21, 2024

  Milwaukee placed Woodruff (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday after he finalized a two-year contract with the club, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Woodruff will be guaranteed $17.5 million in the deal, which includes a $20 million mutual option or a $10 million buyout for the 2026 season. Just over four months removed from right shoulder surgery, Woodruff said that he began throwing program last week. He noted that the operation went better than expected and that he feels completely normal now, but the rehab process will be slow and steady and a potential return before the end of the 2024 season will be decided by doctors. In all likelihood, Woodruff won't get on a major-league mound again until 2025.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Re-signs with Milwaukee

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2024

  Woodruff (shoulder) signed a two-year contract with the Brewers on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The financial details of the deal are not yet known. Woodruff was non-tendered by the Brewers earlier this offseason after he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. The veteran right-hander is expected to be sidelined for the duration of the 2024 campaign, with Milwaukee hoping it can get Woodruff back to ace-level production in 2025. Woodruff held a 2.28 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 74:15 K:BB over 67 innings covering 11 starts in 2023.

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• Brandon Woodruff: Non-tendered by Milwaukee

  Rotowire Nov 17, 2023

  Woodruff (shoulder) became a free agent Friday after being non-tendered by the Brewers, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Woodruff is expected to miss the entire 2024 campaign following October surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He's been a true ace when healthy, but Milwaukee couldn't justify paying his salary -- projected at around $11.6 million in his final year of arbitration -- while he potentially spends all of next season in rehab mode.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Likely out for 2024

  Rotowire Oct 13, 2023

  Woodruff underwent surgery Friday to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Three days after general manager Matt Arnold expressed optimism regarding the right-hander's status for 2024, the Brewers now expect him to miss most if not all of next season. Woodruff missed four months of the 2023 season due to shoulder issues, and his capsular injury also kept him out of the NL Wild Card Series against the Diamondbacks. He will be entering his final year of team control in 2024, though his resume could still encourage Milwaukee to sign him to a long-term contract and keep him around for his return to the mound. Woodruff will turn 31 years old before the start of the 2024 campaign.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: 'Optimistic' about 2024 readiness

  Rotowire Oct 10, 2023

  Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Tuesday that the team is "optimistic" regarding the availability of Woodruff (shoulder) for next season, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports. Woodruff suffered a right shoulder capsular injury during his final start of the regular season, keeping him from making an appearance during the Brewers' NL Wild Card Series loss to the Diamondbacks. He will receive a second opinion on the shoulder this week, but the team seems confident after the initial diagnosis that it won't keep the right-hander from being ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. Woodruff was limited to 11 starts this season due to shoulder issues but was excellent when healthy, holding a 2.28 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 74:15 K:BB over 67 innings. He will be eligible for arbitration for a final time this winter before entering his walk year.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Could miss playoffs due to shoulder

  Rotowire Oct 2, 2023

  Manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Woodruff is tending to a right shoulder capsular injury and will be out for the Brewers' wild-card round series with the Diamondbacks, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "His availability for the postseason is up in the air at this point," Counsell added. Woodruff appeared to be lined up to start Game 2 of the series Wednesday, but those plans will be scrapped after the shoulder issue cropped up following his final regular-season appearance Sept. 23. The right-hander, who already missed four months earlier in the campaign with a Grade 2 subscapular strain, will get a second opinion later this week, but his chances of pitching in the postseason don't seem promising even if the Brewers make a deep run, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Freddy Peralta now becomes the most likely candidate to start Game 2 after Corbin Burnes takes the hill for Game 1 on Tuesday.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: No-decision against Marlins

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Woodruff came away with a no-decision Saturday in the Brewers' 5-4 loss to the Marlins, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six. A three-run shot by Jake Burger in the first inning accounted for most of the damage off Woodruff, but the right-hander still left the mound having generating 29 called or swinging strikes among his 87 pitches. He saw his quality start streak end at five. Since returning to the rotation in early August, Woodruff has posted a 2.59 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 62:12 K:BB through 55.2 innings. With Milwaukee having already clinched the NL Central title, he could be headed for a reduced workload in his final regular-season start next weekend, likely to come at home against the Cubs.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Earns another quality start

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Woodruff did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and zero walks over six innings against Washington. He struck out six. A two-out solo homer by Luis Garcia in the second inning was the only blemish to Woodruff's line, as the hurler allowed only two other baserunners in his six innings. However, an anemic Brewers offense was able to manufacture just one run in support of Woodruff, who was looking for his sixth win of the season in 10 starts. It was Woodruff's fifth consecutive quality start, and he now holds an ERA of 1.06 with 38 strikeouts in 34 innings over that stretch. He'll look continue his hot streak in his next start, currently scheduled to take place in Miami over the weekend.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Shuts out Marlins

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Woodruff improved to 5-1 on the season in Monday's 12-0 win over the Marlins after striking out seven while allowing six hits and a walk in a complete-game shutout. Woodruff didn't allow a single extra-base hit and rarely found himself in much danger during the dominant outing. He tossed 77 of 106 pitches for strikes en route to his first career MLB shutout and first complete game since 2020. He's allowed just three runs over his last 28 innings, lowering his season ERA to 1.93 across 56 frames. Woodruff has given up fewer than three runs in eight of his nine starts this year. His next outing is projected to come at home against the Nationals this weekend.

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• Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Strikes out eight in no-decision

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2023

  Woodruff did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out eight. After the Cubs scored twice in the opening frame, Woodruff rebounded to blank Chicago over his final five frames, allowing just one additional hit. In five starts since returning from a four-month IL stint, Woodruff's pitched to a 3.45 ERA while logging 37 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Overall, he's 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 49:10 K:BB across seven starts (40 innings) this season. Woodruff currently lines up for a road matchup with the Pirates in his next outing.

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