If it weren’t for bad luck, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff would have no luck.
The two-time all-star has endured more than his share of injury setbacks since his major league debut in 2017. From a strained oblique muscle in 2019, a right ankle sprain in 2022, and his latest ordeal with a right shoulder issue, Woodruff has reached 30 games pitched just once in his career.
The 32-year-old right-hander last pitched in a big league game on September 23, 2023, against the Marlins in Miami. In the 22 months since, Woodruff and the Brewers have seen their patience tested time and again due to frustrating setbacks in his rehabilitation.
Woodruff’s long wait appears to be over as he is slated to start one of the games against the Marlins, ironically on the same diamond as his last start, during the weekend of July 4-6. To say his road back has been bumpy would be a vast understatement.
At the onset of the 2023 season, hopes for a successful Brewers season were high. Although they missed the playoffs in 2022, they finished that season with a respectable 86-76 record and stayed in the postseason chase until the final week.
Woodruff was coming off a stellar year, logging a 13-4 record and a 3.05 ERA. After his first two starts in 2023, however, the injury bug reared its ugly head. He landed on the injured list on April 8 with a subscapular strain in his shoulder, and he would not make another start until August 8.
He made nine starts down the stretch, helping Milwaukee to a runaway NL Central crown. He was outstanding when available, going 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 67 innings. Unfortunately, a dark cloud followed Woodruff, bringing unwelcome news.
Days before the Brewers’ playoff series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Woodruff was diagnosed with a damaged anterior capsule in his throwing shoulder. Surgery was required, and “Big Woo” was lost for the entire 2024 season, one in which Milwaukee repeated as division champs.
Since his surgery, Woodruff’s sights never wavered from reaching his goal of toeing the rubber for the Brewers once again.
In January 2025, Woodruff, though very confident of his return, was unable to predict when that would happen.
When asked whether or not he would be ready for Opening Day 2025, Woody replied: ““I honestly can’t answer that question, but I can tell you my mindset is to get ready for that,” he said. “I’m preparing to go and pitch, whether that’s in New York (vs. the Yankees), whether I’m on the back end of the rotation, who knows?”
With this uncertainty, along with fellow all-star Christian Yelich’s trek back from back surgery, Milwaukee had more questions than answers about its roster makeup.
Woodruff was finally cleared to make a rehab start for the Brewers’ Triple-A team, the Nashville Sounds, on April 12. He threw 66 pitches (44 strikes) and worked 3.2 IP in that first start, a 6-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds. He allowed four hits-all singles-and two earned runs, both of which came in the top of the fourth and his final inning of work. He struck out five and touched 95 MPH on the radar gun with his fastball.
His 30-day rehab assignment was due to expire on May 12, but during his final start for Nashville against Norfolk, Woodruff experienced the first of two setbacks to his recovery.
Woodruff complained of ankle discomfort before that May 12 start, which was to be his final rehab outing before rejoining Milwaukee’s rotation. It was a known issue going into that start, which turned out to be tendinitis, a minor albeit nagging ailment.
“He tried to go pitch on it, and it didn’t go the way he wanted it to,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “So he said. ‘I’m not ready.’”
Three weeks later, in what was again supposed to be his final rehab start on June 3, Woodruff was hit flush on the right elbow by a comebacker that registered 108.2 MPH off the bat. He had X-rays that night, followed by extensive testing in Milwaukee the next day, which showed no fractures.
He was diagnosed with a bruise and had to wait for the swelling to subside to be sure there was no tendon damage, according to Murphy. Woodruff was forced to wait for the bone bruise to heal, which has led him to this week.
Woodruff’s resilience and determination during his arduous road back to Milwaukee have made fans out of his coaches.
“You know, he’s been through a lot,” Brewers’ pitching coach Chris Hook said. “He wants to get to the finish line and it’s like something keeps tripping him. But he’s been through downs before, and he’ll get through this one.”
Another of Woodruff’s pitching mentors, Jim Henderson, echoed that support.
It’s understandable to be frustrated with how he feels and then the setbacks on top of it,” said Henderson. “But I think he’s got a great opportunity here to jump back in and get into compete mode.”
For all of his ups and downs, Woodruff is ready to roll this weekend.
“It’s just getting back into a routine and hopefully continue to stay healthy,” said Woodruff. “I know if I can do that, I will figure out how to get guys out at a high level again. It’s just a matter of consistency, and that’s it. But getting here and knowing that I’m going to pitch again in the Major Leagues is exciting. It’s been a long time.”
Milwaukee’s starters have treaded water successfully in the first half of the season; the Brewers have the sixth-best ERA in the National League at 3.77. Now with Woodruff returning and fellow starter Tobias Myers set to rejoin Milwaukee soon, the Brewers’ front end of the pitching staff appears much more formidable for the stretch run.
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