PHOENIX — Brandon Woodruff, the right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, expressed that he surpassed his own expectations during his first encounter with hitters since late in the 2023 season.
On September 23, he sustained a shoulder injury while playing against the Miami Marlins, but on Friday, he successfully completed a batting practice session, throwing 20 pitches.

“I was definitely feeling nervous and a bit jittery,” stated Woodruff. “It has been a year and a half since I faced live hitters, but overall, I felt good. The experience turned out to be much better than I had anticipated. It was important for me to be in this position and face hitters again.”

Moving forward, Woodruff indicated that his immediate priority is to continue progressing through this rehabilitation phase, although he is unsure of when he will participate in spring training games.
“I don’t know if I will,” Woodruff admitted, “but today was a positive step. I managed to get through it without any issues, which is what counts. I’ll approach tomorrow as it comes, and we’ll put a plan in place for the ongoing process. I recognize that it will be gradual, but I am pleased with how far I’ve come so far.”

Prior to the injury, Woodruff had an impressive record of 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA.
However, it remains uncertain if the 32-year-old will be ready to pitch in the season opener against the New York Yankees on March 27.

“I miss the game,” Woodruff shared. “There’s still a long journey ahead of me. Today represented another hurdle I successfully cleared in my recovery. I believe I have taken a thoughtful approach throughout the process to reach this milestone. It’s a good day.”