6:52pm: Woodruff has indeed gone for an MRI, writes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Murphy said an injured list stint is a possibility but did not commit to that pending the imaging results.
1:53pm: Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff was removed from today’s game in the second inning with his velocity notably lower than usual. It quickly became obvious that something was off, as he started the game with his velocity way down. His fastballs were averaging around 85 miles per hour today, whereas he had been around 92 mph in his previous outings this year.
At this point, it’s unclear what the problem is, as Woodruff evidently wasn’t experiencing any pain. “He wasn’t himself,” manager Pat Murphy said in a mid-game interview on the TV broadcast, relayed by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He felt like, felt kind of dead. He said he didn’t feel any pain, just nothing was coming out. We’ve seen a little bit of this, but never at this level, where he can’t get the ball over 85 mph. He’s so important to us. We’re not going to risk anything, maybe long-term by having him to try to step on it. He’s going through this process and hopefully will be okay.”
A 7 mph drop in velocity would be worrisome for any pitcher. The concern is heightened since this relates to Woodruff, given his recent history. Shoulder problems limited him to just 11 starts in 2023. He eventually required surgery, which wiped out his entire 2024 campaign. He was able to return to the mound in the summer of 2025 and made 12 good starts, but finished the season on the injured list with a lat strain.
The Brewers felt good enough about Woodruff’s health to make him a $22.025MM qualifying offer, a notable gesture for a club that rarely pays players at that level. Woodruff took some time to explore his opportunities but eventually accepted the QO and returned to Milwaukee for 2026.
Coming into this year, he was ramped up in measured fashion and it wasn’t clear if he would be built up in time for the Opening Day roster, but he did eventually break camp with the Brewers. Through his first five starts, he had a solid 3.77 earned run average, though with some yellow flags. His 20% strikeout rate was a big drop from last year’s 32.3% clip. He seemed to benefit from a .235 batting average on balls in play. ERA estimators like his 4.06 FIP and his 4.27 SIERA felt he was lucky to have his ERA under 4.00.
Presumably, Woodruff is slated for some testing, with more information to be revealed in the coming days and weeks. If Woodruff needs to spend some time on the injured list, that would be a blow to the Milwaukee rotation. He is capable of ace-level production when at his best, with a 3.13 ERA and 28.8% strikeout rate in his career. But due to the shoulder issues, he hasn’t made more than 12 starts in a season since 2022.
The rest of the Milwaukee rotation is currently manned by Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Chad Patrick and Brandon Sproat. Someone would have to step up to replace Woodruff if he needs to miss some time. DL Hall, Shane Drohan and Jake Woodford have been working multiple innings out of the bullpen of late and could perhaps step up with a spot start or working as a bulk guy in a bullpen game.
They also have guys in the minors they could pull from. Logan Henderson, Coleman Crow, Robert Gasser and Carlos Rodriguez are all on optional assignment in Triple-A. Any one of them could be an option to make a spot start or perhaps get a few turns in the rotation, depending on how Woodruff’s situation eventually pans out.
Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images
TOS incoming? Nagging shoulder injury, dead arm and lowered velo
Hopefully not, but I suppose we’ll all find out soon.
Itll be a retirement before more slicing.
@cwizzy6 you have to know that isn’t true
Why? He’s already had so many injuries and fighting to come back and now this?
I agree. He could come back, but it probably won’t be until the 2028 season, making him 35. Someone will sign him, but I’m not sure he wouldn’t prefer to just simply hang it up.
Well Brewer insiders claim to have more pitching than anyone but Dodgers. With a Pitching Lab they will invent a next great out getter like Crow, Crew or Fitzpatrick or a Fitzgerald. Just not a Zerba.
Logan Henderson
Brewers do have a lot of good and young pitching, emphasis on young. Zerpa pitched too much and too hard in the WBC with too little ramp up.
That is a big velocity dip.
He’s cooked.
Oh no
Greg Maddox was on the IL just once in his HOF career. Fastball in the high 80’s/ low 90’s but keep trying to throw it through the catcher, Brando.
Comments like these comparing any pitcher to a hall of famer are incredibly stupid.
Shouldn’t every picture strive to be in the Hall of Fame? Shouldn’t every player for that matter?
Of course, but that doesn’t mean Woodruff would Maddux by simply lowering his fast all speed.
Woodruff posts great stats, he just has not had a season with more than 180 innings pitched.
Especially when they can’t even spell his name right.
such a clown comment
Maddux was the master as locating his pitches to perfection
Yes, 6-8 inches in the other batter’s box which were called strikes.
So true in the latter years. Not as much early. What would ABS have done to his career- now that is a conversation starter.
I’m a huge GM fan BTW so don’t be reading negative crap into this.
Given his reputation, the umpires mostly went for the easier option.
It’s silly to try to compare players to a HOF. Why not compare him to Randy Johnson or Ryan?
Should have never started the season with the big league club. He should have had an extended ramp up given his injury history and how long it took for him to build up that velo in the first place.
That’s what she said
This is where someone should point out that partially torn soft tissue (like ligaments) hurts like a mother. Fully torn? Sometimes not at all.
I thought the same thing. Brutal to hear, hopefully it’s less serious and he can get back out there soon.
Not sure I’ve ever seen a Velo dip that extreme from one start to another. Teams monitor this in addition to the biomechanics (to see if things are breaking down before an injury or add context to what’s happening with the body). Shocked he wasn’t pulled after ~3 pitches with his history and that drop.
Very surprising that Arizona didn’t hit him hard. He shut down major leaguers with nothing on his heater.
Another one down, oh my
Oof, hope it’s nothing serious.
I thought he’d decline the QO and go try to get a 2-3 year deal. Looked about as good as you could last year when he returned.
it was a really dumb QO.
Brewers paying the price for trying to get a draft pick with the QO… Poor management
🙄
QO’ing woodruff was a pretty easy call. I would’ve done it every single time.
really? Based on a few starts and then getting hurt again last year?
ROTFLMAO! So you would never QO anyone for fear of injuries?
3 guarantees in life:
Death
Taxes
And the Brewers going into a season with a glut of capable starting arms, being pummeled by injuries, Brandon Woodruff getting hurt and turning to a young stud to carry the rotation along with a bunch of no-names and somehow winning the club 85+ games.
This is like the 5th year in a row this has happened
Brewers Devil Magic!
Get me Logan Henderson on line 1.
As soon as he took the QO, I assumed it was because he knew he’d never pass the physical. Good luck to a fine pitcher.
My favorite Woodruff memory is ironically him swinging the bat. Adios. Enjoy the $22,000,000 salary this year. You are set for life.