Brandon Woodruff, the Milwaukee Brewers' veteran right‑hander, is slated to undergo a second major shoulder operation that will shut him down for the remainder of the 2026 campaign and could extend into part of the 2027 season.
The injury's ripple effect
Despite a modest dip in fastball velocity — down four miles per hour from his pre‑surgery peak — Woodruff has posted a 2.98 earned run average and limited opponents to a .174 batting average across nine starts this year.
The setback follows a lengthy recovery from his first surgery, which sidelined him for all of 2024 and a portion of 2025, and his career numbers remain solid: a 3.10 career ERA, 1.022 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings over 151 appearances.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy called the injury a gut punch for the club, but he also expressed confidence that Woodruff will emerge from the procedure ready to mentor younger arms and serve as a steady presence in the clubhouse.
Off the mound, Woodruff has said he intends to be a resource and cheerleader for his teammates, offering guidance to the next generation of pitchers while the team navigates the remainder of the season.
Fans and analysts alike view the right‑hander as a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s recent successes, and his leadership has helped shape the clubhouse culture that propelled the Brewers to multiple playoff appearances since his debut in 2017.