Brewers Face Rotation Challenges After Woodruff's Surgery News
WHO:
MLB.com - Woodruff’s wife, Jonie, delivered the couple’s third child, a healthy baby boy named Walker Neal.
MLB Trade Rumors - Brandon Woodruff, 33, is a right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.
MLB.com - Pat Murphy is the Brewers' manager.
MLB.com - Woodruff's wife is Jonie, and they have a newborn son named Walker Neal.
WHAT:
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff previously underwent a capsule surgery in October 2023 that cost him the entire 2024 season.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff has been limited to 32 starts over the past four seasons due to injuries.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff stated, “I’m not having a funeral or anything,” regarding his surgery and future.
MLB.com - Woodruff's rehabilitation from his previous surgery took about 20 months before he returned to the Major League mound on July 6, 2025.
MLB.com - Woodruff has a career record of 55-30 with a 3.10 ERA, the lowest ERA in franchise history for a pitcher with at least 500 innings pitched.
MLB.com - Woodruff was a National League All-Star in 2019 and 2021 and pitched in three postseason Game 1s.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff's recovery timeline from his shoulder surgery is expected to keep him out for at least part of the 2027 season.
MLB.com - Jacob Misiorowski is MLB’s leader in strikeouts and ERA and will return to the starting rotation during the Brewers-Mets series.
MLB.com - The Brewers activated Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list and plan to use him out of the bullpen.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff is undergoing season-ending capsule surgery on his throwing shoulder.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff has accepted a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Brewers.
MLB.com - Woodruff was diagnosed with a new injury to his previously-repaired shoulder capsule and was moved to the 60-day injured list.
MLB.com - Woodruff has a career record of 55-30 with a 3.10 ERA over parts of nine seasons and is a two-time National League All-Star.
MLB Trade Rumors - Quinn Priester is out for the year due to thoracic outlet surgery.
MLB Trade Rumors - Kyle Harrison is on the 15-day injured list with forearm tightness.
WHERE:
MLB Trade Rumors - The surgery is related to Woodruff's shoulder, which has been a recurring issue.
MLB.com - The Brewers are based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
WHEN:
MLB.com - Misiorowski will slot back into the starting rotation during the Brewers-Mets series that runs from Monday to Wednesday.
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff last pitched on July 4.
MLB.com - Woodruff was placed on the 15-day injured list the day after his last start and was moved to the 60-day injured list shortly thereafter.
MLB.com - Harrison is eligible to return from the injured list beginning July 24.
WHY:
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff's surgery is due to ongoing shoulder issues, including discomfort from a cyst in his labrum.
MLB.com - The Brewers are facing multiple pitching concerns, including injuries to key players.
HOW:
MLB.com - Woodruff confirmed that the surgery would include a repair of the capsule in his right shoulder, the same repair he had in October 2023.
MLB.com - McCullers stated, “I feel good. I had three rehab starts and got up to almost 80 pitches my last start.”
MLB Trade Rumors - Woodruff plans to "attack this rehab with the goal in mind of pitching again."
MLB.com - The Brewers activated Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list and plan to use him out of the bullpen.
Brandon Woodruff, who has faced significant injury challenges, including a capsule surgery in October 2023 that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, is set to undergo another surgery to repair the same shoulder capsule. Despite being limited to just 32 starts over the past four seasons, Woodruff boasts an impressive career record of 55 wins and 30 losses, along with a 3.10 ERA, which is the lowest in franchise history for pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched. In a recent statement, Woodruff reassured fans, saying, “I’m not having a funeral or anything,” as he looks ahead to his recovery and future on the mound.