After missing the entire 2024 season following surgery on the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Brandon Woodruff aims to return to ace status for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025. The 31-year-old righthander was a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s starting rotation from 2017-2023.
Over his career, Woodruff has established himself as one of the franchise’s best pitchers. With a 46-26 record and a 3.10 ERA in seven seasons, he ranks No. 1 in several key categories for the Brewers, including ERA, WHIP (1.045) and strike-to-walk ratio (4.477).
Woodruff has also earned two All-Star selections and recognition in the Cy Young Award voting, finishing in the top five in 2021.
Since 2020, Woodruff is 30-20 with a 2.76 ERA and 566 strikeouts in 473.1 innings.
Woodruff’s absence during the 2024 season was keenly felt. While still strong, Milwaukee’s pitching staff declined in key metrics.
Without Woodruff last season, the Brewers posted a WHIP of 1.23 (ninth in MLB) and their batting average against was 10th (.237). With Woodruff in the rotation in 2023, Milwaukee’s pitching staff ranked second in WHIP at 1.19 and had the best batting average against at .226.
At the MLB winter meetings, Brewers GM Matt Arnold spoke on Woodruff’s status ahead of the 2025 season.
“It’s hard to say at the moment,” he said, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “I think, certainly, we have expectations that he’ll be part of our rotation. We also want to be cautious with him and his health.”
After Woodruff returns, he should eventually reclaim his position as the team’s ace — a role temporarily filled by Freddy Peralta (11-9, 3.68 ERA) in 2024. With Woodruff back at top form, the Brewers should expect a significant boost in their rotation’s performance.
Woodruff’s return could also lead to a resurgence for Milwaukee as it looks to make it back to the postseason following a disappointing exit in the NL wild-card round against the New York Mets.
Woodruff’s strong postseason numbers — a 3.18 ERA with 40 strikeouts, four walks and two home runs allowed in 28.1 innings — could help Milwaukee snap out of its postseason doldrums. In four of the past seven seasons, the Brewers have lost in the wild-card round.