Brandon Woodruff is the longest-tenured player on the Milwaukee Brewers, but the two-time All-Star has battled injuries in the last few years.
He missed the 2024 season and returned to make only 12 starts in 2025. This year, he had a 2.98 ERA through nine starts this year. He made six starts before missing a month with a shoulder injury, and then suffered another shoulder injury that was believed to be season-ending. However, in a twist, his shoulder showed healing in four weeks leading up to his decision to move forward with the surgery. He started a throwing progression and threw a 31-pitch bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 13.
He said he felt like his stuff felt good, and he recovered well afterwards. It's very possible that he is included on the Brewers' World Series roster.
“It’s gonna be hard to keep me off that roster,” Woodruff told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during the Brewers' celebration after Game 4.
“We’ll have this conversation especially in the next few days," he added. "I need to get to the point where I can face some live hitters, and now that we’ve got some time here, it’s good. I’ve always believed in myself. It doesn’t matter if I’m throwing one pitch in two months or ten rehab outings. I don’t care. I feel like I can go out there and do it. I hope I get that opportunity.”
Woodruff is a two-time All-Star and looked great when he was on the mound this year. He is not going to start any games, at least not in a traditional sense. However, he could easily replace Kyle Harrison on the postseaosn roster. Harrison struggled in the second half after his forearm injury and did not even pitch in the first two rounds.
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