NEW YORK -- To say Brandon Woodruff wanted his long-awaited return to the Majors to happen in front of the home fans is a gross understatement. But after nearly two years and two last-minute setbacks just when he was on the cusp of a comeback, he’s not being picky.
Woodruff is back with the Brewers and is scheduled to rejoin the rotation on Sunday against the Marlins in Miami, manager Pat Murphy confirmed, meaning the the 32-year-old, longest tenured Milwaukee player will return to action on the same mound he made his last Major League start on Sept. 23, 2023 -- before shoulder surgery and a multi-year comeback tested his mettle like no opposing lineup ever could.
“That’s kind of strange,” Woodruff said. “The chances of that happening -- the last place I pitched a Major League game and was on that mound, and that’s where things started going south for me. It’s weird how this game works, and how full-circle that comes around.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll feel. I don’t know the emotions. I’ll just be excited to go pitch a Major League baseball game again. Whatever happens, happens.”
Woodruff knows that baseball is a results-oriented business, but he’s been leaning on the advice that his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, offered at the start of Spring Training. Woodruff’s focus this season, Meister said, should be on getting healthy again.
Now that he’s on the cusp of a comeback, Woodruff will have to balance that advice with his desire to perform for a team that’s once again in contention in the NL Central. There’s also the potential of free agency awaiting Woodruff if either side declines his $20 million mutual option for 2026 (he would get a $10 million buyout in that scenario).
“I know we talked about this in Spring Training, not necessarily judging myself on the first half,” he said. “Now here we are getting close to the second half and I have yet to throw a baseball in a Major League game. It’s almost like you throw one outing and the second half comes around and you’re like, 'Well, now it’s time to be judged.'
“Circumstances have led me to this point. I don’t know when it’s going to click, but I say this every year: When it does, it does. Physically, I feel good.”
After previous Minor League rehab assignments ended abruptly with a right ankle injury and then a 108.2 mph comebacker that struck him in the pitching elbow -- both in what was supposed to be his final rehab start -- Woodruff began a new assignment last Sunday for Triple-A Nashville in Jacksonville, throwing 82 pitches and touching 95.4 mph on the radar gun.
Just his luck, the outing very nearly didn’t happen. Woodruff was all warmed up when a rainstorm delayed the first pitch. It was expected to blow through quickly but instead lingered for about an hour.
Finally, the skies cleared and he was able to get his work.
“I just wanted to get the pitches in and come out of it,” Woodruff said. “That’s all I was focused on.”
Mission accomplished. The next challenge was setting the date for his return. There was talk of Woodruff pitching Sunday in Miami, or even Monday at home against the high-powered Dodgers. When he rejoined the team at Citi Field ahead of Tuesday’s rainout, Woodruff thought he would be pitching Saturday.
Now that his return is set for Sunday, it means that the Brewers will employ six starters for this turn through the rotation, with Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick slated to precede him against the Marlins. If Woodruff’s debut goes as planned, he would then get an emotional homecoming against the Nationals at American Family Field in the final series before the All-Star break.
“Now it’s getting ready to prepare to pitch again in the Major Leagues and figure out how it’s going to work,” he said. “It’s like, I know how to pitch, but I’m fine-tuning sequencing, usage, stuff like that. There’s way more knowledge here, so I think I’ll have a much better idea how I want to do that. …
“It’s just getting back into a routine and hopefully continue to stay healthy. I know if I can do that, I will figure out how to get guys out at a high level again. It’s just a matter of consistency, and that’s it. But getting here and knowing that I’m going to pitch again in the Major Leagues is exciting. It’s been a long time.”