Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff has completed a remarkable physical turnaround, earning a spot on the club’s World Series roster ahead of Game 1. The decision came down to the wire on Friday morning after a dramatic sequence of events that left even the team’s front office uncertain until the final hours.
Just months earlier, the 33-year-old right-hander was expected to begin a grueling recovery process from another right shoulder surgery. Following a July setback at Chase Field in Arizona that ended his season prematurely, a scheduled August operation was supposed to sideline him for yet another postseason. However, an August medical scan revealed unexpected improvement in his surgically repaired shoulder, prompting Woodruff to cancel the surgery and immediately embark on a throwing program.
Working toward an ambitious timeline, Woodruff faced live hitters for the first time on Tuesday during a 23-pitch simulated game. Facing the heart of the Brewers’ lineup—including Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Jake Bauers—he clocked a fastball sitting at 90 to 92 mph, down from the triple-digit velocity he has historically produced. Teammates expressed confidence in his return, with Contreras praising his dedication and noting that the clubhouse values his presence on the field.
Before finalizing the 26-man roster ahead of Friday’s 10 a.m. CT deadline, the organization weighed significant risks. President of baseball operations Matt Arnold met face-to-face with Woodruff on Thursday to discuss the situation, as team officials worried that Major League Baseball might deny a roster replacement request if Woodruff suffered a recurrence of his preexisting injury. Despite the unknowns regarding his durability and ability to pitch deep into extra-inning games without postseason runner rules, Woodruff made it clear he wanted to contribute.
Woodruff has been a cornerstone of the franchise since his Major League debut in 2017, posting a 55-30 record with a 3.10 ERA across 790 1/3 innings and earning All-Star nods in 2019 and 2021. His career ERA stands as the best in franchise history for pitchers logging at least 500 innings. Beyond his pitching statistics, teammates emphasized his broader impact on the organization’s culture and his mentorship of younger pitchers throughout the team’s recent turnaround.
