MILWAUKEE -- It’s been a long, frustrating spring for Brandon Woodruff and Nestor Cortes. But Monday brought progress.
In an afternoon appetizer to the Brewers’ 5-4 loss to the Pirates at American Family Field -- a series opener in which every inch seemed to matter, from Jackson Chourio’s dive being just short in the first inning to Christian Yelich’s tying homer on a rare 3-0 swing staying just fair in the fifth to Jake Bauers’ near walk-off home run hooking just foul in the bottom of the ninth -- veteran starters Woodruff and Cortes each took steps toward escaping long stints on the injured list.
Woodruff, rehabbing multiple ailments that began with shoulder surgery in the fall of 2023, threw 60 pitches in four simulated innings, alternating in the first inning with Cortes, who threw just shy of 25 pitches in his first matchup against hitters since aggravating a left elbow flexor injury in April that dates to last season with the Yankees.
Next steps are to be determined, but Woodruff suggested he is very close to another attempt at game action. He will push his workload to the 80-pitch mark next time out, either in another simulated game or in what would be his third separate rehab assignment. The first was scuttled by a right ankle injury and the second by a comebacker that struck his right elbow.
“I’ve always been a guy that when I’m ready, I’m ready. I kind of know that,” Woodruff said. “I’m not saying that’s going to lead to results, but I know that I’m ready to go pitch and compete. I think I’m to that point now.”
He didn’t predict where that next outing would take place, or when. The location, Woodruff said, doesn’t matter at this stage of a process that began with a major shoulder repair in October 2023. Neither does the result -- aside from continued health.
“I don’t care what happens as long as I get the pitches in,” Woodruff said. “Today was a good day for me. My body’s starting to move without having to think about it, if that makes sense.”
Cortes, meanwhile, expects to pitch again Friday in a simulated game or with an inning or two for High-A Wisconsin. Now that he’s facing hitters again, he can begin a map out a path back to the Brewers, who acquired him from the Yankees alongside infielder Caleb Durbin in December’s Devin Williams trade.
Barring any more setbacks, Cortes is aiming to be pitching in Triple-A by July 2, and to be back in the Brewers' rotation the week following the All-Star break.
“When I come back,” Cortes said, “we want to make sure I finish the season.”
Their mound work was the prelude to right-hander Chad Patrick’s 17th appearance and 16th start of what has been a solid rookie season, especially considering the 26-year-old right-hander was ticketed for Triple-A before the Brewers’ spring spate of pitching injuries brought him to the big leagues.
On one hand, Patrick struck out nine, setting a career high and matching the Brewers’ season high. On the other hand, he yielded a career-high nine hits along with four earned runs, marking the third straight start he’s surrendered at least that many runs.
“The command hasn't been as good. The cutter has been a little more inconsistent,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “And people know about him. They’ve seen him. He’s got to -- and he will, because he's that kid -- develop that two-seamer better, a better changeup, a better slider to go along with the fastball.”
At some point soon, the Brewers will have to find ways to work Woodruff and Cortes back into a rotation that has been a strength this season, with Freddy Peralta, Jose Quintana and rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski locked in (at least until innings become a concern for Misiorowski) and Patrick and Quinn Priester holding Minor League options.
But those decisions are for the front office. Cortes and Woodruff are putting their energy into whatever remains of this season once they’re ready. Both will be free agents this fall.
“When the team’s on the road and me and Nestor are here by ourselves, it’s a pretty lonely place,” Woodruff said. “I’ve used it [in a positive way]. We’ve cleaned a lot of stuff up in the weight room and the mechanics. It’s been good. It’s starting to show up today, which is nice.
“It takes time. You don’t know when it’s going to click, but each and every time you learn something from that experience and you put it to use when you’re down. It’s been a puzzle, but it’s finally starting to come together.”