Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Hits five innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Woodruff (shoulder) tossed five scoreless innings Thursday in his latest rehab start at Triple-A Nashville, striking out five batters while allowing two hits and no walks.
After making his first rehab start at Triple-A on April 12, Woodruff moved to High-A Wisconsin for his second outing April 18 before linking back up with Nashville this week. Though the 32-year-old threw 61 pitches Thursday -- seven fewer than his previous start with Wisconsin -- he was highly efficient, facing just two batters over the minimum. After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from September 2023 capsule surgery on his right shoulder, Woodruff's fastball velocity has been hovering a tick or two below pre-surgery levels during his rehab assignment, but Thursday represented a major step forward in terms of regaining command. The right-hander is likely to make at least one more start in the minors before potentially returning from the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with the Brewers in early May.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Tosses 66 pitches in rehab start
Rotowire
Woodruff (shoulder) struck out five and allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in his first rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Nashville.
Woodruff had made a one-inning appearance toward the end of the Cactus League, but his start Saturday with Nashville represented his first in-season game action since Sept. 23, 2023, as he missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from right shoulder surgery. He was generally sharp during the outing, spotting 44 of his 66 pitches for strikes and topping out at 94.4 miles per hour with his fastball. Woodruff is likely to make at least two more starts in the minors before potentially returning from the 15-day injured list and joining the Milwaukee rotation in early May.
Woodruff (shoulder) will make his first rehab start at Triple-A Nashville on Saturday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The plan is for Woodruff to throw roughly 65 pitches during his first rehab outing. The Brewers will keep the 32-year-old righty in the minors for multiple starts while he continues to build up his workload, though the team may push him to return sooner rather than later since it currently has seven starting pitchers on the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Rehab stint on tap
Rotowire
Woodruff (shoulder) will throw a simulated game Monday before reporting to Triple-A Nashville to begin a rehab assignment, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander can take up to 30 days on the rehab assignment, and he'll likely require most of that time to continue building his way back up from the shoulder surgery he underwent in October 2023. Woodruff will be a key rotation piece for Milwaukee once activated, especially with Nestor Cortes (elbow), Aaron Civale (hamstring) and Tobias Myers (oblique) all dealing with early-season injuries.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws 51-pitch simulated game
Rotowire
Woodruff (shoulder) threw 51 pitches over a three-inning simulated game Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
He will throw another simulated game, and if that goes well, Woodruff will be cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers hope Woodruff will be ready to rejoin their rotation sometime in May, but it seems to be a loose timetable and will depend on how he looks and feels on his rehab assignment. The veteran righty is working his way back from capsule surgery on his pitching shoulder.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Set for simulated game
Rotowire
Woodruff (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
He'll throw another simulated game April 7, and if both of those sessions go well, Woodruff will be cleared to pitch in a game, either at extended spring training or as part of a formal rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander would appear to have a chance to return from the 15-day injured list by late April or early May, although it will depend on how he looks and feels as he continues to ramp up. Woodruff is coming back from capsule surgery on his right shoulder and hasn't pitched in a major-league game since September 2023.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Placed on 15-day injured list
Rotowire
The Brewers placed Woodruff (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff's progression from shoulder surgery has gone well lately, as he saw some game action in spring training and could be ready for a rehab assignment in the not-too-distant future. The Brewers haven't provided a timetable for when the right-hander will be ready to return from the IL for his 2025 debut.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Builds up to two innings
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Cactus League debut scheduled
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Getting stretched out in live BP
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws third sim game
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Unlikely to be ready Opening Day
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throwing bullpens twice per week
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Rules self out for 2024
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Re-signs with Milwaukee
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brandon Woodruff: Non-tendered by Milwaukee
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: 'Optimistic' about 2024 readiness
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Could miss playoffs due to shoulder
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: No-decision against Marlins
Rotowire
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.
