Brandon Woodruff Delays Return with Brewers Due to Ankle Injury
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff will not return to the Major Leagues as soon as expected.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy announced before Monday night’s game in Cleveland that Woodruff is dealing with tendinitis in his right ankle.
This issue affected the right-handed pitcher, two-time All-Star, during a rehabilitation appearance on Sunday with Nashville, of Triple-A, which caused the Brewers to delay Woodruff’s expected return after a shoulder injury.
Woodruff threw 39 pitches in 2 1/3 innings against Norfolk before leaving due to the injury. He allowed one run and two hits, and struck out three batters.
Woodruff, 32, last pitched in a Major League game on September 23, 2023. The Brewers announced just before the start of their 2023 National League Wild Card Series against Arizona that Woodruff would not be available due to a shoulder issue. He underwent surgery in October and has been working on his recovery since then.
Woodruff will not be able to pitch for a Brewers minor league affiliate for at least seven days. Murphy said the revised plan is for Woodruff to test the ankle in a couple of minor league starts.
“He tried to throw with him and it didn’t go well in terms of how he felt,” Murphy said. “Our pitchers and him, they all met with the front office and Woody made the decision: ‘I’m not going back yet.'”
Pat Murphy, Brewers Manager
Woodruff’s ankle issue represents the latest setback for a Brewers pitching staff that also has Aaron Civale (left hamstring), Nestor Cortes (left elbow), DL Hall (left lat), Aaron Ashby (right oblique), and Robert Gasser (left elbow) on the injured list.
